PhD defence E. (Effie) Stavrakaki

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options. My research explores a new approach called oncolytic virotherapy, where specially modified viruses are used to attack tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. This therapy shows promise, but tumors like glioblastoma are complex, and not all patients respond the same way. My thesis focuses on personalizing this treatment by identifying biomarkers—molecular signals that can predict whether a patient’s tumor will respond to a particular virus. I also studied how pediatric brain tumors, such as high-grade gliomas and other aggressive types, react to these viruses. My findings show that each tumor type responds differently, which means treatment needs to be tailored to the patient.
To help predict how well a patient will respond to virotherapy, I developed a model using the patient’s own tumor and immune cells. This ex vivo model allows us to test how a patient’s immune system will react to the virus before actual treatment.
In summary, my research aims to make virotherapy more personalized and effective, particularly for hard-to-treat cancers like glioblastoma and pediatric brain tumors. By integrating molecular and immune profiling, I hope to contribute to the development of more targeted and individualized treatments.