highly immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment that limits the efficacy of existing immunotherapies.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) is a lysosomal cysteine protease which is predominantly expressed in antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages, microglia and dendritic cells. Its main role is in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II antigen processing to enable peptide loading and presentation to CD4⁺ T helper cells. In glioblastoma, elevated CTSS expression correlates with tumour grade and poorer patient survival. Importantly, CTSS is increasingly recognised as a regulator of tumour immunity. Thus, this project will examine the role of CTSS in macrophage-mediated antigen processing and immune suppression in glioblastoma. We will assess how CTSS modulation impacts macrophage activity, T cell responses and immunotherapy efficacy using in vivo models, co-culture systems, and advanced immunophenotyping approaches.

highly immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment that limits the efficacy of existing immunotherapies.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) is a lysosomal cysteine protease which is predominantly expressed in antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages, microglia and dendritic cells. Its main role is in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II antigen processing to enable peptide loading and presentation to CD4⁺ T helper cells. In glioblastoma, elevated CTSS expression correlates with tumour grade and poorer patient survival. Importantly, CTSS is increasingly recognised as a regulator of tumour immunity. Thus, this project will examine the role of CTSS in macrophage-mediated antigen processing and immune suppression in glioblastoma. We will assess how CTSS modulation impacts macrophage activity, T cell responses and immunotherapy efficacy using in vivo models, co-culture systems, and advanced immunophenotyping approaches.