Lung cancer, responsible for 40,000 deaths annually in France and 1.8 million worldwide, is seeing an increase in incidence among women. The advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapies has transformed patient care, but the emergence of resistance limits their effectiveness. Understanding tumor biology is crucial for developing personalized treatments.
At the CRCT, the SIGNATHER and NetB(IO)² teams are collaborating with the thoracic oncology department of the CHU de Toulouse, notably Pr Julien Mazières, to enhance immune response and develop new immunotherapies. The NetB(IO)² team, led by Dr Vera Pancaldi, has identified immune cell subgroups associated with patient prognosis and developed bioinformatics approaches to identify biomarkers.
Analysis of cellular interactions using tools like mosna helps predict immunotherapy response. Studies indicate that the spatial organization of certain dendritic cells is linked to this response. Furthermore, Dr Mary Poupot is developing strategies to specifically target pro-tumor 'M2' macrophages using nanoparticles.
The SIGNATHER team, led by Dr Olivier Sordet and Dr Olivier Calvayrac, has characterized residual disease cells and identified a treatment to prevent resistance. Recent research revealed a mechanism involving persistent TOP1 cleavage complexes in acquiring resistance to EGFR inhibitors, paving the way for combination therapies.
Projects such as PRT-K 2026 and PLBIO 2026 are investigating the survival of tumor cells against targeted therapies and the role of the p27 protein. The COALA network, coordinated from Toulouse by Pr Mazières, brings together leading French research teams to advance lung cancer research.
These efforts ultimately aim for personalized treatments tailored to each patient's molecular characteristics. Prevention, including smoking cessation, early screening, air quality, and patient involvement, remains vital. Collective action by researchers, clinicians, patients, and citizens is crucial for improving lung cancer care.
