Mathematical Modeling of the Tumor-Immune Microenvironment to Advance Immunotherapeutic Strategies

Organizers:

Tyler Simmons (Therapy Modeling and Design Center, University of Minnesota), John Metzcar and Sarah Anderson: Therapy Modeling and Design Center, University of Minnesota

Description:

While immunotherapies have been successful in select cancers, they still fail in many diseases. These failures are often attributed to the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME). In cell-based therapies, the TIME may limit immune cell penetration, suppress those that infiltrate, drive T cell exhaustion and more. The TIME may also influence the effectiveness of various biologics used in non-cell-based therapies. Overcoming these hurdles is critical to the advancement of immunotherapies, both for optimizing existing treatments and developing new therapies. To address the complexities of the TIME and its role in immunotherapy, mathematical modeling offers a systems-based approach to elucidate the processes behind limited treatment efficacy and help explain clinical and experimental data. Modeling also provides an opportunity to investigate potential immunotherapies. Through system perturbations, we can better understand the mechanisms of action and suggest optimal treatment regimens. Ultimately, the construction, simulation, and analysis of TIME-based mathematical models can help guide therapy development and even predict treatment responses. This minisymposium brings together researchers who leverage mathematical principles and computational approaches to navigate the complex interactions within the TIME and improve immunotherapeutic strategies. We focus on translational research, where models are utilized to investigate therapeutic approaches by addressing the TIME.