Tumor Immunology & Antigen Processing
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Group Leader Benoît Van den Eynde Contact Benoît Van den Eynde de Duve Institute and Université catholique de Louvain and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research LICR-DDUV - B1.74.03, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 3rd floor B-1200 Brussels phone: 32 (0)2 764 75 72 fax: 32 (0)2 764 75 90 e-mail: Benoît van den Eynde Group members > |
Research topics
Building up on the molecular definition of tumor antigens recognized by T cells, our group mainly focuses on two aspects of tumor immunology, namely the processing of tumor antigens and the study of animal models to optimize cancer immunotherapy and evaluate tumor resistance mechanisms.
1. Processing of Tumor Antigens: Tumor antigens recognized by Cytolytic T Lymphocytes (CTL) consist of peptides that are presented by MHC molecules at the cell surface and derive from intracellular proteins that are degraded by the proteasome. The intracellular pathway leading from the protein to the peptide/MHC complex is known as "antigen processing".
2. Study of animal models to optimize cancer immunotherapy and evaluate tumor resistance mechanisms: Translation of knowledge on tumor antigens into efficient cancer immunotherapy requires additional studies on the various strategies that can be used. Some of these studies can be done in preclinical animal models.
Selected publications
Warren EH, Vigneron NM, Gavin MA, Coulie PG, Stroobant V, Dalet A, Tykodi SS, Xuereb SM, Mito JK, Riddell SR, Van den Eynde BJ.
An antigen produced by splicing of non-contiguous peptides in the reverse order.
Science. 2006, 313: 1444-47.
Vigneron N, Stroobant V, Chapiro J, Ooms A, Degiovanni G, Morel S, van der Bruggen P, Boon T, Van den Eynde BJ.
An antigenic peptide produced by peptide splicing in the proteasome.
Science. 2004, 304: 587-90.
Uyttenhove C, Pilotte L, Théate I, Stroobant V, Colau D, Parmentier N, Boon T, Van den Eynde B.
Evidence for a tumoral immune resistance mechanism based on tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.
Nat Med. 2003, 9: 1269-74.
