Targeted delivery of TRAIL for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer

PhD ceremony: Mr. M. de Bruyn, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Targeted delivery of TRAIL for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer

Promotor(s): prof. A.G.J. van der Zee, prof. L.F.H.M. de Leij

Faculty: Medical Sciences

In this thesis, the concept of tumour-targeted delivery of sTRAIL was further developed in preclinical studies with an emphasis on eliminating metastasis and disseminated disease. In addition, this tumour cell-targeted approach was adapted to an immune cell-targeted approach with the goal of augmenting anti-tumour activity of T-cells. Selective delivery of high levels of TRAIL to the cell surface of T-cells, a key tumoricidal immune effector cell population, strongly augments their anti-tumour activity. This novel approach proved to be highly effective towards a host of different tumour cell types, including ovarian cancer.