Molecular Medicine PhD Program

Advanced Immunology per Molecular Medicine

Advanced Immunology per Molecular Medicine

Anno accademico 2024/2025

Sommario insegnamento

• Obiettivi formativi
• Programma
• Modalità di insegnamento
• Testi consigliati e bibliografia
• Note
• Strumenti didattici
• Scheda del corso

Obiettivi formativi

This course will provide a comprehensive understanding of the immune system and its role in cancer, with a particular focus on tumor immunology, immunotherapy approaches, and emerging areas in immune-based cancer treatments. Throughout the course, students will delve into the mechanisms of immune responses against cancer, the processes by which tumors evade immune detection, and the latest advances on how to potentiate patient’s own immune system. The course will offer an in-depth exploration of novel immunotherapies in immune-oncology research, such as checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive T cell therapies. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge fields such as immunometabolism, microbiome modulation, and the role of predictive biomarkers in cancer treatment.

At the end of the course students will develop the skills to critically assess and interpret immunological research in oncology.

Programma

1: Introduction to tumor Immunology:

Cancer Immunosurveillance and Immunoediting

• Role of the Immune System in Tumor Suppression.
• Cancer Immunosurveillance Hypothesis.
• Tumor Elimination and Immunoediting.
• Immunoediting and Immunoevasion.
• Immune Infiltration and Immune Contexture.
• T Cell Exhaustion.

Mechanisms of Immune Evasion by Tumors

• Barriers Within the Tumor Microenvironment (TME).
• Down-modulation of Tumor Antigen Presentation.
• Disabled Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs).
• Tumor-associated Macrophages.
• Co-inhibition.
• Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)
• The Dual Role of B Cells in Cancer.
• Tumor-induced Modulation of the TME.

2: Immunotherapy Approaches in Cancer Treatment (I):

Immunity to Tumor Antigens: From Self-Tolerance to Immunotherapy

• Tumor Associated Antigens (TAAs) and Oncoantigens.
• Neoantigens.
• Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) and Immunogenicity.

Models for Immune-Oncology Research

• In Vitro Models.
• Syngeneic Immunocompetent Mouse Models.
• Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMMs).
• Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX) and Humanized Mouse Models.
• Relevant techniques in the immune-oncology field.

Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICBs)

• Inhibitory Receptors and T Cell Exhaustion.
• Mechanisms of Response to ICBs.
• Mechanisms of Resistance to ICBs.
• Clinical Application of ICBs.
• Towards a Combinatorial Strategy.

3: Cancer Vaccine and Adoptive T Cell therapy:

Cancer Vaccines

• Types of Cancer Vaccines.
• Oncolytic Virotherapy.
• Ex Vivo Analyses of Immune Responses.

Adoptive T Cell Immunotherapy

• Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.
• Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs).
• TCR-Redirected T Cells.
• CAR-Redirected T Cells.
• Clinical Applications and Efficacy.
• Towards Combinatorial Strategy.

4: Emerging Areas in Tumor Immunology:

Immunometabolism

• Metabolic Checkpoints in Immune Cells.
• Metabolic Crosstalk Between Tumor and Immune Cells in the TME.
• Strategies to Modulate Immunometabolism for Cancer Treatment.

Microbiome and Cancer Immunotherapy

• Gut Microbiota: Composition and Role in Health and Disease.
• Microbiome Modulation to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy.

Biomarkers for Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy

• Predictive Biomarkers for Immunotherapy.
• The Role of Biomarkers in Personalizing Cancer Treatment.

Modalità di insegnamento

Duration: 24 h

Format: 4 frontal/interactive lessons of 6 hours divided as follow:

• May 23, 2025 (AULA COPERNICO)
• May 30, 2025 (AULA COPERNICO)
• June 6, 2025 (AULA ARISTOTELE)
• June 13, 2025 (AULA COPERNICO)

from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 17.30. 

Centre of Molecular Biotechnology, Via Nizza 52.

Textbooks: Cellular and Molecular Immunology by Abbas et al; Janeway's Immunobiology by Murphy et al.; The immune system by Peter Parham; Cancer Immunotherapy: Principles and Practice by Lisa H. Butterfield et al.; Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy by Robert C. Rees and Lorena S. Brown. Online Databases: PubMed for immunology-specific research papers.

Note

Application are open till May 15th. Please use the Campusnet platform to apply.

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