Testing a new immunotherapy in a patient-based tumour model

Project summary

Using our own immune system to fight cancer has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, current immunotherapies do not yet achieve a favourable response in most patients. In line with this need for better cancer treatments, this collaboration combines Glycostem’s innovative natural killer (NK) immune cell therapy with Erasmus MC’s expertise in predicting treatment effectiveness. Together, they aim to develop a fast, reliable method to determine which patients with advanced colorectal cancer will benefit from NK cell therapy, potentially saving lives while reducing unnecessary treatments.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with over 1.9 million new cases diagnosed annually. Despite advances in treatment, the five-year survival rate for patients with advanced colorectal cancer remains below 15%. Most of these patients do not have an effective immunotherapy option available, and predicting who will be a good candidate for a (new) therapy remains a challenge. Moreover, healthcare systems spend billions annually on ineffective cancer treatments, highlighting the urgent need for better methods to match patients with appropriate therapies.

This project develops patient-specific tumour models from biopsy samples to predict responses to NK cell therapy before treatment begins. This approach can prevent patients from undergoing ineffective treatments and makes testing new therapies more effective. The models also provide valuable insights into how cancers do or do not respond to treatment, enabling researchers to design improvements tailored to individual cases.

The project will develop a validated predictive model for immunotherapy responses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. If successful, it will create a blueprint for personalized treatment selection across various cancer types and therapies. Ultimately, this work advances the vision of precision oncology where every patient receives the treatment most likely to help their specific cancer.