Ravid Straussman, MD, PhD
Project Title
Characterization of the Neuroblastoma microbiome and its effects on the response to therapy
About the Investigator
Prof. Ravid Straussman was trained as an MD, PhD at the Hebrew University and completed his post-doc training at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Since its establishment 12 years ago, the Straussman lab has become a leader in the field of tumor microbiome research, demonstrating that tumors are not sterile but rather contain live bacteria that influence the response to therapy. Works from the lab have been published in some of the best scientific journals, such as Science, Nature, and Cell, and Prof. Straussman has won multiple prizes for his scientific achievements.
About the Research
Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that can be very hard to cure, especially when it returns after treatment. Most research focuses on the cancer cells themselves, but tumors are also “ecosystems” that may include bacteria in them. The Straussman lab, as well as other labs, has shown in other cancer types that bacteria within tumors can influence immune responses and even the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, almost nothing is known about the presence of bacteria in pediatric tumors in general and in Neuroblastoma in particular.
In this project, we will test a novel idea: that some neuroblastoma tumors harbor bacteria that shape the tumor’s immune environment and influence its response to therapy. Our preliminary data indicate that the majority of neuroblastoma tumors contain bacteria, and the presence of these bacteria is closely associated with patient survival. We will study tumor samples from multiple hospitals, mapping the location of the bacteria within the tumor, identifying the bacterial species involved, and correlating these findings with immune activity and clinical outcomes.
Next, we will move from observation to function. Using neuroblastoma models, we will investigate whether specific bacteria can render cancer cells more resistant or more vulnerable to standard treatments, and whether targeting these bacteria can enhance the therapeutic effects.
If successful, this work could reveal an unexpected and actionable feature of neuroblastoma, paving the way for new biomarkers and combination strategies that enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments for children with neuroblastoma.
