Evaluation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to combat therapy resistance in bladder cancer.
Lead Research Organisation:
Institute of Cancer Research
Department Name: Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging
Abstract
Approximately 50% of locally-advanced and metastatic bladder tumours show enrichment of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with increased Transforming Growth Factor-beta signalling and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. Survival outcomes and therapy responses are particularly poor in these "immune-excluded" tumours. The role of CAFs in radiotherapy resistance is poorly understood and likely to be clinically important. In this proposal, immunogenomic and immune phenotyping approaches will characterise CAF-enrichment, the ECM and the wider immune microenvironment in large retrospective tissue collections and a prospective randomised trial using immune checkpoint blockade with standard chemo-radiation. Novel non-invasive biomarkers including urinary TCR-Seq will also be evaluated.
People |
ORCID iD |
Amy Burley (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MR/R01583X/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2025 | |||
2603225 | Studentship | MR/R01583X/1 | 04/10/2021 | 03/10/2025 | Amy Burley |