Mechanism-Based Design of Combination Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer
Project Leader: Tayyaba Hasan, PhD
Project 3 will primarily focus on the preclinical exploration of PDP (photodynamic priming) mechanisms and will test whether PDP contributes to stimulating tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) recruitment. The kinetics and quantification of TIL infiltration will be determined with the help of the HFME device and Core B. This will be used to develop an immunoscore that will be used to determine optimal ICI (immune checkpoint inhibitor) therapy timing. This data will be compared to the human data gathered from Project 2. Once the optimal timing for PDP and ICI therapy is established, Project 1 and Project 2 will use this data and incorporate these findings into the design and analysis of the human studies.
This research will mainly focus on mouse PDAC models. This will extend to study 3D cultures of human PDAC. The PDP response of patient-derived immune organoids (PDIOs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be assessed. This project will collaborate with Project 1 to help develop similar models with SCC tumors. 3D models will use HFME to assess tumor cell and immune cell interaction that is induced by PDP in real-time.