This project aims at dissecting the immunological mechanisms that govern the balance between an effective anti-tumor response and immunosuppression within tumors. By focusing on the pivotal role of macrophages and dendritic cells, we seek to understand how these cellular populations influence lymphocyte mediated immune response and response to checkpoint blockade therapies.

Our Research Axes:

• Macrophage Heterogeneity: We specifically study perivascular FOLR2+ macrophages, whose presence correlates with better immune infiltration and a favorable prognosis in luminal breast cancer.
• Escape Mechanisms: In parallel, we analyze populations of immunosuppressive macrophages (TREM2+GPNMB+), which are particularly abundant in tumors and hinder lymphocyte responses.
• Cutting-Edge Technologies: To map these interactions, we combine scRNA-seq analysis, spectral cytometry, and spatial transcriptomics. We use breast and lung cancer preclinical murine models.