Locoregional Immunotherapy Strategies in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
"Intracavitary immunotherapy offers a unique opportunity to treat tumors confined to serous cavities through highly localized approaches with the potential to improve efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity."
DR. FERNANDO ARANDA VEGA
Intracavitary immunotherapy focuses on the treatment of tumors that develop or disseminate within body cavities, particularly the peritoneal and pleural spaces. These anatomical compartments present distinct immune and stromal microenvironments that influence tumor progression, resistance to therapy, and response to immunotherapeutic strategies.
Our group studies how local administration of immunotherapy can generate more effective antitumor responses in diseases such as peritoneal carcinomatosis and pleural mesothelioma, two aggressive malignancies with limited therapeutic options and high unmet clinical need. Building on locoregional approaches already used in oncology, we aim to better understand how the immune context of each cavity can be exploited to design more precise and more potent therapies.
This group is integrated in the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
Dr. Fernando Aranda
GROUP LEADER
| +34 948 194 700 | Ext. 81 3004 | |
| faranda@unav.es | |
| Research profile |
Oncology research integrated in the
Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra
Our work focuses on understanding the immune microenvironment of serous cavities, particularly the peritoneal and pleural spaces, to overcome the biological barriers that limit the efficacy of intracavitary immunotherapies. By exploiting the unique features of these compartments, we aim to enhance local and systemic antitumor responses, ultimately improving patient survival and quality of life.
Objective of the Immunotherapy Strategies in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Group
Our work focuses on understanding the immune microenvironment of serous cavities and identifying the biological barriers that limit the efficacy of locally delivered immunotherapies. By combining preclinical models, translational studies, and patient-derived samples, we aim to develop novel strategies that improve disease control, survival, and quality of life for patients with intracavitary malignancies. Specifically, our objectives are:
To characterize the immune ecosystem of the peritoneal and pleural cavities
We study the cellular, molecular, and stromal components that shape immune responses in these compartments, with special interest in mechanisms of immunosuppression, local inflammation, and tumor-host interaction.
To develop new intracavitary immunotherapy strategies
We evaluate innovative local approaches, including viral and non-viral vectors, mRNA-based therapeutics, engineered immune cells, cytokine delivery systems, and combination strategies tailored to the biology of each cavity.
To validate translational opportunities in clinically relevant models and patient samples
We integrate experimental findings with analyses of malignant ascites, pleural effusions, tumor implants, and surgical specimens in order to identify actionable biomarkers and accelerate clinical translation.
To generate effective therapeutic alternatives for aggressive cavity-based malignancies
Our ultimate goal is to improve treatment options for diseases such as peritoneal carcinomatosis and pleural mesothelioma, where current therapies remain insufficient.
Our work reveals that intracavitary immunotherapy does not act uniformly, but rather engages specialized immune niches within each cavity. In the peritoneum, the omentum emerges as a central orchestrator of antitumor immunity, driving both local control and systemic immune activation.
Lines of research
We investigate local immunotherapeutic strategies to treat peritoneal dissemination from abdominal and pelvic malignancies. Our work includes the study of intraperitoneal delivery systems, immune activation within the omentum and peritoneal cavity, and combination approaches aimed at overcoming local immune resistance.
We develop and test novel immunotherapy approaches for malignant pleural mesothelioma, a tumor with poor prognosis and limited standard treatment options. Special emphasis is placed on the pleural immune microenvironment and on therapies delivered directly into the pleural space to maximize local efficacy.
We study viral and non-viral platforms for the local expression of immunostimulatory molecules, cytokines, and engineered therapeutic payloads. These approaches are designed to generate potent regional immune activation while minimizing systemic toxicity.
We explore the therapeutic potential of delivering engineered lymphocytes directly into the peritoneal or pleural cavity. This includes the study of T-cell persistence, regional expansion, bystander effects and interactions with the cavity-specific microenvironment.
Using patient-derived samples such as ascites, pleural effusions and tumor biopsies, we seek to identify biomarkers associated with response, resistance and immune remodeling during treatment. This translational effort is intended to facilitate patient stratification and future clinical application.
Meet the research team
Scientific activity of the Immunotherapy Strategies in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis research group
Latest scientific publications
- Autocrine activity of engineered IL-33 mRNA enhances adoptive T-cell therapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis and synergizes with IL-12 mRNA Jan 1, 2026, | Magazine: Theranostics
- The significance of the omentum in locoregional immunotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis Nov 20, 2023 | Magazine: Oncoimmunology
- Intraperitoneal administration of a modified vaccinia virus Ankara confers single-chain interleukin-12 expression to the omentum and achieves immune-mediated efficacy against peritoneal carcinomatosis Nov 13, 2023 | Magazine: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
- Intracavitary adoptive transfer of IL-12 mRNA-engineered tumor-specific CD8+ T cells eradicates peritoneal metastases in mouse models Dec 15, 2022 | Magazine: Oncoimmunology