PhD candidate 'Modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance radiosensitivity'
open universiteit · Nijmegen, NL
Job description The tumor microenvironment TME plays an important role in determining how tumors respond to radiotherapy. Features such as stromal composition, hypoxia, and cellular senescence can contribute to radioresistance and may therefore represent potential therapeutic targets. In this PhD project, you will investigate how modulation of the TME can enhance the response to radiotherapy. The project will combine patient derived models and in vivo tumor models to study how different TME characteristics contribute to treatment response and to explore potential strategies to target these mechanisms. A range of complementary preclinical approaches is used, including hypoxia modulation, targeting of senescent cells or cancer associated fibroblasts CAFs , image guided radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition. Treatment response and underlying mechanisms will be assessed through readouts such as DNA damage and repair, tumor growth and characterization of the TME. The precise experimental approaches will be guided by the scientific findings and direction of the project.