Cancer and the immune system
The immune system is intricately involved in all aspects of cancer. While many neoplastic cells are detected and eliminated by immune cells, inflammation is also a fundamental driver of tumourigenesis. Our group is interested in understanding the basic immune-regulatory mechanisms in cancer, focusing on a new type of immune-regulatory cell, called the group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2). More specifically, ILC2 are known to directly influence many pro- and anti-cancer immune pathways, making this cell a challenging but potentially important target to investigate. We are using, and developing, cutting-edge reagents to study how ILC2-driven inflammation is involved in cancer. This research will reveal potential new avenues for immunotherapy.
Our research at the CRUK Cambridge Institute leverages our expertise in ILC biology and innate/adaptive immune crosstalk, and many of the strengths of the institute:
- Imaging inflammation and cancer
- Developing new immune-targeted reagents
- Single cell technologies to study the tumour niche
- Close interactions with Addenbrooke’s and Papworth hospital