Immunopeptidomics and Novel Target Discovery in Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumours

Granulosa cell tumours (GCT) are rare ovarian cancers with limited treatment options, particularly in the recurrent setting. Although adult GCT are defined by the FOXL2 mutation, this has not yet translated into effective targeted therapies. One promising new approach is to identify tumour-specific peptides presented on the cell surface by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, which may serve as highly specific therapeutic targets. Our laboratory is using immunopeptidomics, an advanced mass spectrometry-based approach, to define the repertoire of peptides presented by HLA molecules in granulosa cell tumour models. By comparing tumour-relevant cell systems with distinct genomic backgrounds, we aim to identify tumour-specific peptide-HLA complexes associated with oncogenic drivers such as FOXL2 and other key tumour-related pathways. These studies may reveal novel targets for immunotherapy, antibody-based targeting, or other precision medicine approaches. This project will suit students interested in cancer biology, tumour immunology, proteomics, and translational research. It offers the opportunity to work at the interface of mass spectrometry, tumour antigen discovery, and therapeutic development, with the long-term goal of identifying clinically actionable targets for rare ovarian cancers.