Dietrich lab

The Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, headed by Prof. Pierre-Yves Dietrich has been active for many years in glioma immunology. In the last decade, our group contributed to the understanding of important new concepts in the field of brain tumor immunology and in the development of immunotherapy for patients with brain cancer. The current research group is comprised of junior and senior research scientists developing individual projects, assisted by skilled research technicians. ...

Research projects

Brain Tumor Immunology

(i) T cell trafficking to the brain (Calzascia 2003, 2008)

(ii) Identification of glioma antigens (Dutoit Brain 2012)

(iii) Therapeutic vaccines (Hilf Nature 2019, Migliorini Neuro oncol 2019)

A key step in the development of immunotherapy for glioma was the identification of a set of glioma antigens by the Dietrich group in 2012, and the initiation of several clinical trials based on these findings. These studies showed that CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to the vaccines can be elicited. Further approaches of combining these vaccines with other treatment modalities are currently being tested.

This identification of brain tumor antigens in our laboratory was directly translated into the clinic through a clinical trial of peptide vaccination using our targets, which started in Geneva in 2013. This vaccine, given to patients already suffering from the disease, specifically stimulates tumor-reactive T lymphocytes present in the patient’s blood that patrol the body to find and kill tumor cells. After having vaccinated 19 patients, we are now analyzing the immune responses elicited by the vaccine and are following the patients’ clinical evolution. This has provided us with important information to understand the effect of the vaccine on the patients’ immune system and disease. Importantly, a follow-up trial is currently ongoing at HUG, which combines the present peptide vaccine with (i) an anti PD1 antibody (pembrolizumab) that allows sustained activation of T cells, thereby improving vaccine efficacy, and (ii) a modulator of the microenvironment (TLR agonist). This work has led to the concept of personalized peptide vaccines and has allowed us to design better vaccines for patients suffering from glioma.

Colorectal Tumor Immunology

Rectal cancer is one of the ten most common cancers worldwide. Current curative treatment sequences use radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. Although curative, this combined approach is associated with important morbidity due to the loss of continence and an important risk of relapse. A major obstacle in the development of effective therapies is posed by the intrinsic and extrinsic biological heterogeneity of these tumors.

Our group focuses on studying the tumor immune microenvironment in rectal cancer and its modifications following radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy with the aim to uncovering ways to harness it for therapy.

Currently, we are working on four different projects:

  • Capturing cellular dynamics in rectal cancer using scRNA sequencing:

Our study aims at bridging this knowledge gap by generating a single-cell atlas of RC tumor cells and their surrounding immune and stromal cells, as well as exploring cell-specific transcriptional changes related to specific therapeutic interventions.

  • Tackling immune exclusion in microsatellite stable rectal cancer:

By applying a combination of in vitro and in vivo rectal cancer models, ‘omics’ approaches and advanced imaging techniques, we aim at developing alternative approaches to promote de novo T cell activation and infiltration into the tumor microenvironment of microsatellite stable rectal cancer and other non-inflamed tumors.

  • Breaking barriers to successfully treat rectal cancer - a clinical trial:

Our clinical trial (PEMREC) is the first study evaluating a novel therapeutic approach that combines radiotherapy with an anti-PD1 antibody. This study could lead to a major breakthrough in the treatment of rectal cancer.

  • Explore functional states and spatial interactions between cell types using multiplexed-IF and advanced image analysis:

Here, we aim at developing a multiplexed immunofluorescent technology to FFPE tissue along with a software for digital pathology to characterize the tumor microenvironment of rectal cancer.

Selected Publications

Patients’ experiences with cancer care in Switzerland: Results of a multicentre cross-sectional survey.

Arditi C, Eicher M, Colomer-Lahiguera S, (...), Duchosal M, Peters S, Peytremann-Bridevaux I

European journal of cancer care – 2022 Sep 21

Allogeneic CAR T Cells: An Alternative to Overcome Challenges of CAR T Cell Therapy in Glioblastoma.

Martínez Bedoya D, Dutoit V, Migliorini D

Frontiers in immunology – 2021 Mar 3

Single-Cell Analyses Identify Brain Mural Cells Expressing CD19 as Potential Off-Tumor Targets for CAR-T Immunotherapies.

Parker KR, Migliorini D, Perkey E, (...), Chang HY, Posey AD Jr, Satpathy AT

Cell – 2020 Sep 21

Phase I/II trial testing safety and immunogenicity of the multipeptide IMA950/poly-ICLC vaccine in newly diagnosed adult malignant astrocytoma patients.

Migliorini D, Dutoit V, Allard M, (...), Walker PR, Patrikidou A, Dietrich PY

Neuro-oncology – 2019 Jul 11

Actively personalized vaccination trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Hilf N, Kuttruff-Coqui S, Frenzel K, (...), Sahin U, Dietrich PY, Wick W

Nature – 2018 Dec 19

Glycan-directed CAR-T cells.

Steentoft C, Migliorini D, King TR, (...), Mandel U, June CH, Posey AD Jr

Glycobiology – 2018 Sep 1

Glut3 Addiction Is a Druggable Vulnerability for a Molecularly Defined Subpopulation of Glioblastoma.

Cosset É, Ilmjärv S, Dutoit V, (...), Weis SM, Mischel PS, Cheresh DA

Cancer cell – 2017 Nov 30

CAR T-Cell Therapies in Glioblastoma: A First Look.

Migliorini D, Dietrich PY, Stupp R, (...), Linette GP, Posey AD Jr, June CH

Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research – 2017 Nov 20

First report of clinical responses to immunotherapy in 3 relapsing cases of chordoma after failure of standard therapies.

Migliorini D, Mach N, Aguiar D, (...), McKee T, Dutoit V, Dietrich PY

Oncoimmunology – 2017 Jun 21

BRAF/MEK double blockade in refractory anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma.

Migliorini D, Aguiar D, Vargas MI, Lobrinus A, Dietrich PY

Neurology – 2017 Feb 24

Hypoxia and antitumor CD8+ T cells: An incompatible alliance?

Vuillefroy de Silly R, Dietrich PY, Walker PR

Oncoimmunology – 2016 Sep 9

Exploiting the glioblastoma peptidome to discover novel tumour-associated antigens for immunotherapy.

Dutoit V, Herold-Mende C, Hilf N, (...), Weinschenk T, Singh-Jasuja H, Dietrich PY

Brain : a journal of neurology – 2012 Mar 14

Prevention of CNS relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Kridel R, Dietrich PY

The Lancet. Oncology – 2011 Sep 18

Promising survival for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme treated with concomitant radiation plus temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide.

Stupp R, Dietrich PY, Ostermann Kraljevic S, (...), de Tribolet N, Mirimanoff RO, Leyvraz S

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology – 2002 Mar 1

Tumor expression of Fas ligand (CD95L) and the consequences.

Walker PR, Saas P, Dietrich PY

Current opinion in immunology – 1998 Oct

Related news

Events

Leçon d’adieu Prof. Pierre-Yves Dietrich | November 24th

Events

Symposium in honor of the retirement of Prof. Pierre-Yves Dietrich | September 28th