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LATVIAN

BIOMEDICAL

RESEARCH AND STUDY CENTRE


RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN BIOMEDICINE FROM GENES TO HUMAN

Project Title: Functional programming of tumor-associated macrophages with viral immunotherapy vectors in breast cancer model

Project No: lzp-2018/1-0208

Period: 1st August 2018 – 31 July 2021

Project costs: 300 000 EUR

Principle Investigator: Dr. biol. Anna Zajakina

Summary

The aim of this proposal is to develop a new strategy for targeted programming of TAMs using viral vectors, and to approve anti-cancer properties of the reprogrammed TAMs in advanced preclinical models. Alphaviral vectors, producing reprogramming cytokines, in combination with complementary effector molecules, will be applied for activation of TAM anti-cancer properties in a 3D environment using innovative heterotypic spheroid models of breast cancer. The conditions and supplementary factors for TAM programming will be identified and further assessed in immunocompetent mouse model and a patient derived xenograft model. The expected results will facilitate the development of a new immunotherapy platform based on targeted programming of the key components of tumour microenvironment with powerful virus gene delivery vectors.