De Duve Institute

Regulation of T lymphocyte function in tumors


Group Leader
Pierre van der Bruggen

Contact
Pierre van der Bruggen
de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
GECE 74.59, 74 avenue Hippocrate
B-1200 Brussels
phone (direct) : 32 (0)2 764 74 31
fax : 32 (0)2 792 94 05
e-mail: Pierre van der Bruggen


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Research topics

Regulation of T lymphocyte function in tumors

We have recently discovered a new type of anergy of human CD8 T cells, which is observed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We are analyzing the mechanism of this type of anergy and we look for agents that reverse this anergy. The analysis of the T cell responses of melanoma patients vaccinated against tumor antigens has led us to consider the possibility that the limiting factor for therapeutic success is not the intensity of the anti-vaccine response but the degree of anergy presented by intratumoral lymphocytes. We therefore intend to pursue clinical trials involving the use of these agents in combination with anti-tumoral vaccination.

Selected publications

Demotte N., Stroobant V., Courtoy P.J., Van der Smissen P., Colau D., Luescher I.F., Hivroz C., Nicaise J., Squifflet J.-L., Mourad M., Godelaine D., Boon T. and van der Bruggen P. 2008. Restoring the association of the T cell receptor with CD8 reverses anergy in human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Immunity, 28: 414-424.

Lurquin C., Lethé B., Corbière V., Théate I., van Baren N., Coulie P.G. and Boon T. 2005. Contrasting frequencies of anti-tumor and anti-vaccine T cells in metastases of a melanoma patient vaccinated with a MAGE tumor antigen. J. Exp. Med., 201: 249-257.