Leuven, 23 January 2025 – The Proof of Concept Grants by the European Research Council aim to support scientists with exploring the validation potential of their ERC-funded discoveries. This year, Prof. Max Mazzone and Prof. Peter Carmeliet (both VIB-KU Leuven VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology) received an ERC Proof of Concept Grant.
Cutting-edge research in immunotherapy in pancreatic and lung cancer
Despite developments in immunotherapy, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with a low 5-year survival rate. Research by the team of Prof. Max Mazzone identified a new metabolic interplay driving immune escape in pancreatic cancer. In the PA-PYR-us project, the Mazzone team aim to develop first-in-class P2Y6 biological blockers that directly affect this interplay.
PA-PYR-us will use an out-of-the-box approach to generate a new class of molecules suitable to target this P2Y6 in vivo. More specifically, by developing nanobody (Nb) blockers and evaluating the landscape of competitors, this proof of concept project will promote the clinical development of the identified therapeutic targets.
In non-small cell lung cancer, roughly 80% of patients have a poor response or develop resistance to current immunotherapies. In the NANOBITER project, the team of Prof. Peter Carmeliet will focus on the often-overlooked role of endothelial cells in this resistance. Building on prior work that demonstrated the immunosuppressive nature of tumor endothelial cells, the team has identified several new promising therapeutic targets.
NANOBITER aims to develop nanobody (Nb) therapeutics for the three most promising targets with the greatest therapeutic efficacy. This will provide proof of concept that discovering and validating unexplored immunosuppressive genes is an efficient and innovative strategy. The two strongest candidates will be tested in vivo, paving the way for innovative treatments.
