Identifying and overcoming CAR T cell barriers in the colorectal carcinoma microenvironment

P18 pursues organoid-based systems for the generation and assessment of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells that could be used for CRC therapy. The complementary expertise of the two PIs in innovative technologies (CAR-T cells combined with T-lymphocyte specific vector technology and organoid co-culture assays,) will be instrumental to identify barriers in the TME preventing CAR T cell activity. This project may allow the conversion of inactive TILs into human CAR-T cells in vivo, which could ultimately lead to the implementation of this technology for the treatment of solid tumors in general.