Dr Krijn Dijkstra has been awarded funding through the NWO-XS Open Competition (2023-4) for an innovative project titled “One for all, all for one: do cancer cells cooperate to fight off T-cells?”
Tumours are heterogeneous, consisting of multiple distinct subclones that differ in their genetic makeup or behaviour. Traditional approaches view cancer as a battleground where different cell clones compete for dominance. However, emerging evidence suggests a different narrative: could cancer cells be collaborating to resist treatment?
In this research proposal, the focus shifts from viewing cancer cells as independent competitors to understanding them as potential allies in tumour progression. The proposal challenges the conventional wisdom by suggesting that cancer cells might cooperate rather than compete, conferring advantages that fuel tumour growth and treatment resistance.
By integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and organoid cultures, we will isolate different cancer cell subpopulations from colorectal cancers and grow those in the lab as organoids. These different organoids will then be mixed in various combinations to determine whether there are cancer clones that are killed by immune cells when on their own, but protected if organoids derived from other subclones can shield them. Ultimately, this could open up a new paradigm leading to therapies that target the cooperative networks within tumours rather than just the fastest-growing cells.
NWO-XS funds €50,000 for high-risk / high-gain projects with a maximum duration of 1 year, read more here.