Project at a glance

Our lab explores why immune cells often lose their ability to effectively fight cancer. One of the main reasons is the tumor’s harsh environment — low oxygen levels, poor blood supply, and lack of nutrients — which weakens anti-tumor immunity over time. Interestingly, cellular metabolism is tightly linked to the regulation of gene expression. Therefore, we investigate how these metabolic conditions can influence the activation or deactivation of certain genes in immune cells, which affects their behavior and ability to destroy cancer cells. Understanding how energy usage is linked to gene activity, could lead to new approaches to improve immunotherapy.