The immune system is able to distinguish tumor cells from healthy cells. However, the immune response generated against tumor cells is often not strong enough to clear the tumor. The goal of our current project is to activate the immune system by mimicking a viral infection in tumor cells. For this, instead of using intact viruses, we only use specific structures, which are recognized by specialized receptors in the tumor cells, and capsid proteins to target tumor cells. Recognition of these foreign particles leads to the secretion of alarm signals that attract cells of the immune system and also induces direct tumor cell death. With this in situ vaccination strategy we are trying to generate a specific and strong immune response against tumors.

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