Natasja investigated the composition of the tumor resident immune compartment in colorectal cancer. This led to the observation that a subset of γδ T cells was enriched in a subset of patients. Further work revealed that these cells possessed the capacity to eradicate tumor cells in vitro. Strikingly, PD1 was expressed by these γδ T cells indicating they could be a target of immune checkpoint therapy. In collaboration with the NKI this was confirmed by the outcome of a clinical trial. Thus, γδ T cells may be exploited as novel mediators of anti-tumor immunity.
Natasja de Vries performed her studies in the department of Immunology and the department of Pathology under the supervision of Frits Koning and Noel de Miranda.
Further reading:
γδ T cells are effectors of immunotherapy in cancers with HLA class I defects. de Vries NL, van de Haar J, Veninga V, Chalabi M, Ijsselsteijn ME, van der Ploeg M, van den Bulk J, Ruano D, van den Berg JG, Haanen JB, Zeverijn LJ, Geurts BS, de Wit GF, Battaglia TW, Gelderblom H, Verheul HMW, Schumacher TN, Wessels LFA, Koning F, de Miranda NFCC, Voest EE. Nature. 2023 Jan;613(7945):743-750. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05593-1.
High-dimensional cytometric analysis of colorectal cancer reveals novel mediators of antitumour immunity. de Vries NL, van Unen V, Ijsselsteijn ME, Abdelaal T, van der Breggen R, Farina Sarasqueta A, Mahfouz A, Peeters KCMJ, Höllt T, Lelieveldt BPF, Koning F, de Miranda NFCC. Gut. 2020 Apr;69(4):691-703. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318672