Cancer Immunosurveillance

Cell death and microbial sensing trigger immunity to cancer. In the Cancer Immunosurveillance group we investigate the cells, molecules and pathways involved in the recognition of dying cancer cells or intestinal commensal microbes and study their functional consequences on immune components (e.g. DC and T cells) that determine anti-cancer immunity and immunotherapy success.
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Research areas

Nutrient-host-microbiome interactions that drive cancer immunity

Gut commensals can modulate anti-cancer immune responses dictating the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, however, analysis of the gut microbiome composition of patients undergoing ICB therapy has failed to consistently identify key species that correlate with favourable responses.

Our recent discoveries have uncovered a unique opportunity to exploit the complex relationship between diet, gut microbiota, immunity and cancer.

Host detection of damaged cancer cells that elicit cancer immunity

Cell death is frequently triggered in the tumour microenvironment (TME) due to tumour suppressor mechanisms and anti-cancer therapy. Dendritic cell (DC) can sense cell debris and can often elicit antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses through integration and processing of dead-cell-associated molecular cues.

Nutrient-host-microbiome interactions that drive cancer immunity
Host detection of damaged cancer cells that elicit cancer immunity

A note from the Group Leader – Evangelos Giampazolias

My research interest is focused on understanding the mechanisms that makes cancer a visible threat to the immune system. Specifically, I study the ‘dialogue’ between gut commensals or damaged cells with host cells and how these interactions lead to cancer immunity.   

In my group, we work with in vivo mouse models and gut organoids using spectral flow cytometry, microscopy, single-cell or bulk transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics in host cells or commensal species to answer both unbiased and hypothesis-driven objectives that will allow us to identify instructive factors of cancer immunity. In collaboration with oncologists at the Christie Hospital we have developed a protocol of biospecimen collection that will allow us to translate our basic findings to the clinic by assessing the predictive value of nutrient-host-microbiome interactions in cancer patient outcome and immunotherapy response.  

Through our interdisciplinary background, established international collaborations and cutting-edge facilities of CRUK Manchester institute, we continue to identify novel mechanisms of immune defence that will contribute to our general understanding on how the immune system respond to insults and might pave the way for developing new immunotherapeutic approaches.  

Meet the group

Evangelos Giampazolias

Junior Group Leader

Swara Patel
Swara Patel

PhD Student

Alexander Vdovin Postdoctoral Fellow
Alexander Vdovin

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Pengbo Wang

Scientific Officer

Portrait image of Emma West from Cancer Research UK MI
Emma West

PhD Student

FAQs

We are looking for enthusiastic postdocs to study nutrient-host-microbiome interactions that define immunity to cancer in mice and humans. If you are interested in our work, please feel free to get in touch directly using the contact form below.

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Institute life in Manchester

We strive to make our community a welcoming, caring and enthusiastic one, fuelling ambition with opportunities for training and mentoring to help us all achieve our personal and professional goals.

“We are so pleased to have received the funding to enable us to test our hypothesis in the lab. If we can create a new medicine that can precisely target a specific type of cell within the tumour, and restore anti-cancer immune responses, this will be a game-changer for oesophageal cancer patients “

Sara Valpione

Former Institute Clinical Fellow and now Clinician in Residence within the CRUK National Biomarker Centre

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Purchasing Officer

“We’ve seen some remarkable responses, with an improvement for some patients within days. This is an early phase trial so there’s a lot more work to do. But the data we have so far is very encouraging and could help many thousands of people in the future”

Tim Somervaille

Senior Group Leader

“It is a pleasure to introduce my team who work to deliver our research goals. We work in a friendly and collaborative environment, supporting each other’s projects.  “

Amaya Virós

CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow

Careers that have a lasting impact on cancer research and patient care

We are always on the lookout for talented and motivated people to join us.  Whether your background is in biological or chemical sciences, mathematics or finance, computer science or logistics, use the links below to see roles across the Institute in our core facilities, operations teams, research groups, and studentships within our exceptional graduate programme.