Susan Thomas

Home Institution:

 The Johns Hopkins University

Host Country, Institution:

 Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Project Title:

 Developing Anticancer Vaccines Using Lymph Node Targeting Nanoparticles

Project Abstract

Harnessing the immune system to combat cancer remains an attractive potential therapeutic strategy because it would be as effective in eradicating primary tumors as metastatic tumor colonies. We intend to develop an anti-cancer vaccine using a nanobiotechnology approach consisting of coupling cancer peptide or protein antigens to the surface of nanoparticles which can then be carried upon injection to antigen presenting cells in the lymph nodes. The chemically engineered surface of the nanoparticles can then trigger complement activation, which acts as an in situ "danger" signal for DC maturation which will direct a tumor-specific immune response.