Online event: Cancer Institute Seminar Series - Dr Seth Coffelt

Hosted by Dr Clare Bennett

Understanding how cancer spreads from its primary site of origin to distant organs is one of the major challenges in cancer research. What has become evident in recent years is that mutations in cancer cells are not sufficient to drive metastasis formation – cancer cells need assistance from surrounding healthy cells. Among these various healthy cells, immune cells have emerged as powerful instigators of metastasis formation but, at the same time, immune cells can also prevent cancer cells from spreading.

Our lab focuses on these dichotomous roles of immune cells and how tumours control immune cell behaviour. We study these concepts in the context of breast, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. We are particularly interested in γδ T cells, a rare population of T cells with properties that are distinct from conventional CD4 and CD8 T cells, as γδ T cells can be both pro-tumourigenic and anti-tumourigenic. Our ultimate goal is to understand how γδ T cells and other immune cells participate in the metastatic process and to develop new immunotherapies that counteract metastatic lesions.

In this presentation, Seth Coffelt will discuss the role of gamma delta T cells in breast and pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Further information:

• γδ T cells: pleiotropic immune effectors with therapeutic potential in cancer
• IL-17-producing cd T cells and neutrophils conspire to promote breast cancer metastasis
• Loss of p53 triggers WNT-dependent systemic inflammation to drive breast cancer metastasis

This is an online seminar. If you would like to join, please contact Veronica Domiguez v.dominguez@ucl.ac.uk

A recording of this seminar will be available after the event.

Main image credit: Glasgow Evening Times