Title:	MCC bulk RNAseq
DNr:	NAISS 2024/23-407
Project Type:	NAISS Small Storage
Principal Investigator:	Libuse Janská <libuse.janska@ki.se>
Affiliation:	Karolinska Institutet
Duration:	2024-07-01 – 2025-07-01
Classification:	30107
Keywords:

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has transformed the possibilities of cancer treatment by boosting anti-cancer immunity. Its clinical use has been particularly successful in metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), one of the rarest but deadliest skin cancers. Nevertheless, only half of patients respond to treatment, and many develop resistance. MCC, often caused by viral integration into the host genome, is highly immunogenic and, thus, a good model for studying cancer-immune interactions. However, the underlying reasons for ICI resistance remain unclear. In this project, we will explore published bulk RNA-seq data from patient tumors to investigate several aspects of MCC and its immune interactions. We will assess the gene expression pattern differences between ICI-responding and non-responding patients. We will also examine the expressed isoforms of immune-checkpoint-related genes within tumors. In addition, we will search for gene expression correlating to different clinical features of MCC. This data will serve to expand several projects in the lab with valuable insights into the transcriptional features of MCC.