PhD candidate 'Modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance radiosensitivity'

• Nijmegen
• On-site

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in determining how tumors respond to radiotherapy. Features such as stromal composition hypoxia and cellular senescence can contribute to radioresistance and may therefore represent potential therapeutic targets.

In this PhD project you will investigate how modulation of the TME can enhance the response to radiotherapy. The project will combine patient-derived models and in vivo tumor models to study how different TME characteristics contribute to treatment response and to explore potential strategies to target these mechanisms. A range of complementary preclinical approaches is used including hypoxia modulation targeting of senescent cells or cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) (image-guided) radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition. Treatment response and underlying mechanisms will be assessed through readouts such as DNA damage and repair tumor growth and characterization of the TME. The precise experimental approaches will be guided by the scientific findings and direction of the project.

At the Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology (ROI) lab of the department of Radiation oncology 20 researchers aim at better understanding how tumor cells interact with the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME) and how these interactions influence response to cancer treatment with a particular focus on radiotherapy.

Research is centred around the complex interplay between tumor cells cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) immune cells and other components of the TME. We aim to identify and therapeutically target TME features that contribute to treatment resistance and to develop strategies that enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy. Our work combines imaging molecular cellular and immunological approaches ranging from mechanistic studies to preclinical in vivo models.

The ROI lab is located within the department of Radiation Oncology allowing for frequent interaction between basic and translational research and clinical practice. This provides an excellent environment for translating mechanistic insights into novel therapeutic strategies.