Research
Our research lies at the intersection of clinical oncology, basic immunology, and computational biology. The TIL Group pursues its main goal through a three-pronged approach:
- Dissecting acquired resistance to cancer immunotherapy
In two early studies, we characterized the mechanisms of acquired resistance to adoptive TIL therapy (go to publication Donia et al., Cancer Res, 2017) and post-PD-1 immunotherapy (go to publication Nielsen et al., Cancer Immunol Res, 2022). These studies served as the basis for EDITING (Evolutionary Dynamics of ImmunoediTING during cancer immunotherapy), a project aimed at understanding the biology behind treatment-induced immunoediting. By employing a combination of forward and reverse translation methodologies, we integrate clinical data and basic tumor immunology research to provide potential solutions for acquired resistance to immunotherapy.
- Understanding the functional interactions between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and cancer cells
We focus on exploring the post-immune recognition activities of TILs and cancer cells. Through in vitro modeling of the tumor microenvironment, we have discovered how tumors respond to T cell attacks (go to publication Gokuldass et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother, 2022) and characterized CD4+ TIL killing in immunotherapy-resistant tumors (go to publication Draghi et al., Clin Cancer Res 2023). Our current investigations involve studying the functional heterogeneity of the TIL response, including both conventional and unconventional functions of tumor-reacting TILs within individual patients.
- Evaluating the activity of melanoma immunotherapy in the real-world setting
Phase III clinical trials often fail to include over 50% of real-world patients with metastatic melanoma (go to publication Donia M, Eur J Cancer, 2017). To bridge this gap, we utilize the Danish Metastatic Melanoma Database (go to publication) to understand the effects of available treatments on real-world clinical outcomes. The knowledge gained from this analysis inform on the real-world value of standard-of-care (go to publication Schina et al., Eur J Cancer 2023), and guide future clinical practice.