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Bile duct cancer is a deadly disease. Immunotherapy is part of first-line therapy for advanced bile duct cancer, but response rates are low. The network of innate immune cells and bacteria in bile duct tumours and their ability to influence the course of the disease is largely unknown. This project aims to understand the interplay of bacteria and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in the tumour and the tumour environment. The network of ILCs and bacteria in bile duct cancer is investigated in order to identify processes that can be used therapeutically.

In this research project the evolution of highly malignant primary brain tumors is investigated. These tumors are the result of an evolutionary process that is driven by randomly acquired mutations and selection. They consist of a heterogeneous population of cell clones that develop differently over time. New sequencing techniques and mathematical models are used to study these clones. In this way, the selective advantage of individual mutations can be identified and the growth dynamics of subclones determined.

Despite the widely recognized importance of the tumour microenvironment the understanding of mechanisms by which immune cells interact with lymphoma cells is still limited. To address this challenge, this project will investigate the infiltration of immune cells in tumour biopsies obtained before therapy initiation. Thereby, different patterns of immune cells between patients can be observed and their impact on the clinical outcome will be investigated.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, with its high mortality rate predominantly due to metastatic disease. A crucial component of the CRC tumor microenvironment is the intestinal microbiome, which plays a pivotal role in inflammation and CRC development. This study aims to characterize the metastatic process of CRC, focusing specifically on the interplay among intestinal bacteria, innate immune cells, and tumor cells during liver metastasis development.