Tuesday, May 20, 2025 5/20/2025

Malignant Cell Engagement in Immune Circuits of Human Microsatellite-stable and Microsatellite-instable Colorectal Cancer

Award Number: R00CA259511
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Malignant Cell Engagement in Immune Circuits of Human Microsatellite-stable and Microsatellite-instable Colorectal Cancer - Project Summary An important question in cancer immunology is how malignant cells and T cells communicate and impact the efficacy of anti-tumor immunity. To generate hypotheses for how these cells interact, we have applied single cell RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptomes of >700,000 malignant, immune, and stromal cells in 2 cohorts: (1) 65 patients with two types of primary untreated CRC (31 MSS and 34 MSI tumors) which are characterized by vastly different immunotherapy response rates; (2) pre- and post-treatment specimens from 20 BRAF-mutant metastatic CRC patients treated with BRAFi/MEKi/anti-PD1. These data led us to formulate the central hypothesis for this proposal: malignant cells that express interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) acutely promote anti-tumor immunity, while chronic interferon responses in malignant cells impair anti-tumor immunity and therapeutic responses. The proposed work is anticipated to reveal fundamental insights into human tumor immunology and provide a novel perspective for the design of robust biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies. We will address three major questions. First, is the MSI/responder-associated ISG program in malignant cells part of an intra-tumoral feed-forward loop that is driving anti-tumor immunity? This will be answered by spatially mapping the intratumoral cellular interaction network between ISG+ malignant cells and T cells in untreated primary CRC specimens, and in post-treatment specimens of patients treated with BRAFi/MEKi/anti-PD-1, which will reveal association of this spatial network with tumor regression. Second, what are the drivers of malignant ISGs in human CRC, and can interferons impact immune responses and responses to targeted therapy by epigenetically reprogramming human CRC cells? To address this, we will use interferons and innate immune stimuli to induce ISGs in CRC organoids, map the transcriptional and epigenetic signatures to the signatures found in freshly isolated CRC cells, and nominate ISG-inducing upstream regulators. IFN-stimulated and subsequently rested organoids will be assessed for epigenetic memory and for modulated secondary immune and drug responses. Third, how do pre-existing ISG signatures in malignant cells impact CTL-mediated anti-tumor responses? Using peptide-cognate T cell lines, we will test the in vitro killing of ISG+ and ISG- peptide-loaded CRC organoids. We will furthermore test how ISGs modulate in vivo tumor killing by temporally controlling malignant ISG expression in transplantable tumor models. In summary, we use scRNAseq to predict malignant cell – T cell interactions, and then test these hypotheses with cutting-edge technologies such as spatial profiling, single cell epigenomics, and human organoid T cell co-cultures. The results should elucidate how malignant cells that respond to interferons impact anti-tumor immunity and resistance, generate foundational results and model systems for an R01 proposal, and prepare the candidate for an independent career to study the cellular networks that drive human tumor immunity.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$63,842 )
2025	2023	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	4	4/3/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$63,842
														Subtotal = -$63,842

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $249,000 )
2023	2023	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	4	8/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$249,000
														Subtotal = $249,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $312,842 )
2022	2022	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	002	3	8/15/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$249,000
2022	2021	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	2	12/30/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$63,842
2022	2021	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	001	2	5/24/2022	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $312,842

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $249,000 )
2021	2021	J.DAVID GLADSTONE INSTITUTES	1650 OWENS ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94158	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	2	9/16/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$249,000
														Subtotal = $249,000

Grand Total All Awards = $747,000

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Malignant Cell Engagement in Immune Circuits of Human Microsatellite-stable and Microsatellite-instable Colorectal Cancer

Award Number: R00CA259511

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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