Spatial Quantification of Cellular Metabolism in Human Cancer

In this talk, I will present our recent work on how the metabolic tumor microenvironment influences immune cell function and limits the efficacy of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibition. We have used advanced multi-omic spatial imaging and machine-learning techniques to map the metabolic states of tumor and immune cells in human cancer, focussing on colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and melanoma. Our findings reveal spatially defined metabolic niches that predict response to immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma patients. Now, we are using patient-derived organoids to model metabolic niches and mechanistically dissect their metabolic immune interactions. These insights lay the groundwork for new therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating tumor metabolism to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.