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Prof. Tamar Geiger
Prize for a Young and Promising Researcher
Prof. Geiger's research aims to understand the complexity of human cancer by global protein profiling. Hundreds of different cancer diseases are all characterized by faster cell proliferation; however, the disease in each individual is slightly different, and even a single tumor can present various phenotypes. This heterogeneity is the basis of acquisition of drug resistance and tumor relapse, and is therefore critical in order to improve patient care.
Prof. Geiger takes a proteomic approach of global quantitative mapping of patient tumor samples, in order to understand drug resistance and cancer progression. Tumor analyses are commonly performed on the genomic and transcriptomic levels. However, the next level of genetic code processing - the proteins - has received much less research attention. Analysis of the protein level integrates the genetic changes with changes within the tumor microenvironment, and closely reflects the tumor phenotype.
Mapping hundreds of tumor samples and different regions within single tumors associates between the expression level of each protein, and the biological phenotype. Using this approach Prof. Geiger found that higher metabolic activity in melanoma cells increases the tumor response to immunotherapy, through elevation of the visibility of the cells to the immune system. These results identified potential biomarkers of response and drug targets that can increase immunotherapy response. This integrative clinical proteomic approach provides a unique view on cancer, which can lead to improved patient diagnosis and treatment.
