The SU2C–Lustgarten Foundation Convergence Research Team is exploring the underpinnings of pancreatic survivorship. By looking at a few individuals who survive pancreatic cancer for long periods of time (5-12 years), the team has identified an initial set of high-quality neoantigens, or protein tags, on cancer cells that the immune system recognizes.
In this project, researchers are using artificial intelligence computational approaches to understand what makes a neoantigen high-quality and how the microbiome influences how the immune system recognizes it The goal is to develop a method for creating vaccines to treat pancreatic cancers. If successful, this research will have a significant impact on understanding neoantigen T-cell immunobiology and could improve the treatment prospects of pancreatic cancer patients.