On Wednesday 27 November at 13:00, Lea Skovmand Jensen defends her PhD dissertation entitled "Towards Simplicity in Complexity - Mapping the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Exploring the Role of Cancer Cell-Intrinsic STING Signaling".

Tumors exhibit a heterogeneous and interconnected composition of cancer cells, immune cells and other influencing factors, all of which play crucial roles in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TME).  Anti-tumor immunity is driven by the infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which eliminate tumor cells by recognizing tumor antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. The innate immune pathway regulated by Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) plays a significant role in modulating tumor immunity, and pathway activation upon DNA sensing trigger cytokine-driven immune response which can impact immune cell priming.

In this PhD project a multicolor flow cytometry panel was developed for in-depth phenotyping of major tumor-infiltrating immune populations in murine tumors. The panel can shed light on the composition and functions of immune cells in the TME. Additionally, the project has explored the role of cancer cell intrinsic STING signaling in melanoma and its impact on the TME. Findings indicate that STING levels correlate with MHC-I expression of melanoma cells. Moreover, loss of STING in syngeneic mouse model of melanoma, resulted in impaired tumor control and reduction in infiltrating CD8 T cells.

The summary is written by the PhD student. 

The defence is public and takes place in the Merete Barker Auditorium, the Lakeside Theatres, Aarhus University. Please see the press release for more information. 

Contact

PhD student Lea Skovmand Jensen
Mail: lsjba@biomed.au.dk 
Phone: 27623506

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