Identification of relevant markers for personalized treatment of lung cancer

The CANVAS consortium reveals how the tumor environment modifies immune recognition, paving the way for more effective T cell therapies.

Gdańsk, January 15, 2026 – A major obstacle in transforming cancer research into concrete treatments may have been overcome by the EU-funded CANVAS project. Researchers have developed a new method for identifying specific "markers" on tumor cells that immune cells use to attack cancer, particularly for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study highlights a critical finding: the environment in which a tumor grows drastically changes how it "looks" to the immune system.

In short

The CANVAS project has developed a method for identifying neoantigens for personalized T cell therapy in lung cancer.

A pilot study showed that the "peptide repertoire" of a tumor changes significantly depending on its environment (laboratory culture vs. human body), explaining why many therapies proven in the lab fail in patients.

Researchers have managed to identify unique and stable characteristics of cancer, common to multiple patients and models, which serve as correct targets for future immunotherapies.

T cells are the soldiers of the immune system, usually fighting against infections. When they are trained to recognize specific antigens (proteins) on cancer cells, they can become powerful tools for cancer treatment. However, choosing the right target marker is essential. The CANVAS project – led by the International Center for Vaccine Science Against Cancer (ICCVS) of the University of Gdańsk, in collaboration with the University of Rome Tor Vergata, CEA in France, and the Polish biotechnology Real Research – aimed to solve the reason why so many promising therapies fail when transitioning from the lab to the patient.

"We wanted to understand... how the cancer model environment influences the tumor and its interaction with the immune system," explained Natalia Marek-Trzonkowska, director of ICCVS. The team focused on peptides – chains of amino acids displayed on the surface of cells, which T cells use to recognize threats. They compared these peptides in different environments: inside a patient, in 2D and 3D laboratory cultures, and in animal models.

The findings were clear. The study showed for the first time that the "peptide repertoire" differs significantly between a primary tumor in a patient and the same cancer grown in a laboratory model. This discrepancy explains why immune cells that kill cancer in a Petri dish often fail to recognize the tumor in the human body. However, the team also discovered "bright spots": unique characteristics of NSCLC that are shared by tumors from different patients and are preserved across all models.

"These characteristics of cancer are the appropriate targets for anti-cancer therapy," noted Marek-Trzonkowska. By distinguishing between environmental artifacts and stable cancer markers, the CANVAS project has laid a solid foundation for designing precise and safe immunotherapies that can survive the transition from laboratory to clinic.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/identificarea-markerilor-relevanti-pentru-tratamentul-personalizat-al-cancerului-pulmonar