Invited Talk

Mechanobiology of cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated solid tumour rejection

EMBL Australia, c/- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia

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Cytotoxic lymphocytes can migrate rapidly and with striking versatility in a continuous search for cells to subdue. Adoptive cell transfer immunotherapies attempt to harness the capacity of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells to effectively locate, engage and kill cancer targets, yet they have thus far largely proved unsuccessful when targeting solid malignancies, notably due to insufficient tumour infiltration. Moreover, the mechanisms and cellular forces that underpin the coordinated movements and interactions of killer immune cells and tumour cells are incompletely understood. Here, we investigate the intercellular signalling and mechanical forces that these killer immune cells employ to effectively infiltrate and attack solid tumour cells. Using integrative and multidisciplinary methods encompassing advanced microscopy, image analysis, biophysical instruments, and modelling, we are uncovering the intricate mechanobiology of cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated tumour rejection.