Scientists at the Centre for Cancer Immunology are now able to develop their innovative ideas for new cancer treatments thanks to support from the Bernard Sunley Foundation.
Four projects have each received a gift of up to £25,000 from the Foundation to the Cancer Immunology Fund.
The funding provides vital support to researchers who have early concept ideas that need further investigation before more substantive funding from external sources can be secured.
Sue Davies, Director of the Bernard Sunley Foundation, said: “Our Trustees are immensely proud to be helping the University of Southampton in its advancement of truly cutting edge and potentially life-saving cancer research harnessing the immune system. This grant, which was given to help mark the Foundation’s 60th anniversary year, is about looking to the future and to supporting talent and ideas that may help to transform the lives of patients in the years ahead.”
Tumours arise in various locations in the body and move between tissues through metastasis or natural circulation in the blood. But, due to different compositions, tissues contain different numbers of immune cells and therefore provide differing responses to immunotherapy. The first project, led by Matthew Carter, will use cutting-edge technologies to examine diverse tissue microenvironments and immune populations, how the tumour reacts in that environment and the impact upon therapy. This knowledge will guide the development of new approaches to improve antibody immunotherapy.
Despite the encouraging results in immune checkpoint treatments (antibody drugs that take the breaks off the immune system to help them attack cancer cells), in other cancers, breast cancer typically fails to respond. The second study, led by Constantinos Savva, will analyse the interaction between tumour and immune cells and seeks to enhance immune responses against breast cancer using the novel combination of metformin, a glucose lowering drug, and a checkpoint inhibitor drug that targets PD1.
Immunotherapy can be successful in treating some cancers but unfortunately only a small percentage (14%) of colorectal cancer tumours respond. These responding tumours typically have a less stable genome and exhibit something called microsatellite instability (MSI), which makes them easier for the immune system to detect. However, only a third of the MSI tumours respond and so the third study, led by Sheah Lin Lee, will investigate how these non-responding colorectal cancer tumours with MSI are able to avoid immune detection and destruction. This information could be used to develop new approaches to successfully treat greater numbers of colorectal cancers with MSI.
Cancer can trick a subset of white blood cells called myeloid cells into helping them grow and survive, avoiding immune destruction. Studies in Southampton have shown that a group of receptors, called LILRBs, are involved in this process. The fourth study, led by Ali Roghanian, will analyse how a particular LILRB receptor called LILRB3, which is found within many tumours such as breast cancer, regulates the body’s immune responses to prevent immune destruction. The study will provide better understanding of the common mechanisms involved in suppressing the immune system in cancer patients and will, hopefully, yield more effective future therapeutics.
Professor Mark Cragg, Chair of the Cancer Immunology Talent Fund Steering Committee, said: “We pride ourselves on fostering a curiosity-driven research culture where novel ideas are encouraged – even the smallest of ideas can spark the biggest breakthroughs. Gifts like the ones from the Bernard Sunley Foundation support us in developing these ideas and allow our scientists to push the boundaries of cancer research. We are incredibly grateful for this gift and look forward to delivering these innovative research projects that could change the landscape of cancer treatment.”