Carcinogenesis is a multi-factorial process that is shaped by the interaction of transformed cells with their microenvironment. Within the cellular compartment of the tumor microenvironment, immune cells are major regulators of tumor development by affecting all hallmarks of tumorigenesis, from initiation to metastatic spread. One important event in this process is the modulation of the microenvironment to create an immunosuppressed milieu, which is essential for tumor growth and progression.

During the last years, identification of different immune regulators involved in maintaining an anti-inflammatory pro-tumoral microenvironment has changed the perspective of the approaches used in cancer therapy. Immune modulation using different immunotherapeutic strategies has been successful in the treatment of distinct types of cancer. However, a significant fraction of the patients does not respond to the currently available immunotherapies (i.e immune checkpoint inhibitors), therefore it is necessary to explore novel immunoregulatory molecules/pathways within the tumor microenvironment.

Our research focuses on the immunoregulatory role of the novel cytokine IL-38 and its receptor IL-1RAPL1 in tumor microenvironment. Using different tumor models, we study the implication of these molecules in the tumor immune profile. Additionally, we explore the immune context originated by the different conventional therapies used in certain cancer types.