Dr. Céline Laumont, PhD

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is an aggressive disease with a high relapse rate (80-90%) and low survival rate (30%). Interestingly, patients who survive longer tend to have tumors infiltrated by a diverse team of immune cells, including antibody-producing B cells. Thus, in my project, I try to decipher how these tumor-infiltrating B cells might contribute to tumor control. To do so, I will profile the molecular features of immune cells isolated from 50 ovarian tumor specimens using a technique that captures gene expression with single-cell resolution. Next, I will isolate the antibodies produced by tumor-infiltrating B cells and use these antibodies to define the molecular features that B cells recognize on tumors. My findings will provide unprecedented insights into the inner workings of the immune system in patients, informing the design of new immunotherapies that boost anti-tumor immunity and promote long-term survival of patients.