MULTIR at the 38th European Congress of Pathology in Stockholm12–16 September 2026 | Stockholm, Sweden
The MULTIR project was represented at the 38th European Congress of Pathology (ECP 2026), held from 12 to 16 September 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden. The congress brought together pathologists, clinicians and researchers from around the world to share advances in diagnostic and molecular pathology, cancer research and precision medicine.
MULTIR was represented by Prof. Lise Boussemart, MULTIR Project Coordinator and Dr Ioannis Pateras from partner HORG, who delivered an oral presentation entitled “Developing Immune-Associated Biomarkers with Clinical Impact in Cancers Treated with Immunotherapy”. The presentation showcased collaborative research carried out by scientists from several institutions within the MULTIR consortium.
Exploring the tumour immune microenvironment
The research focused on understanding how interactions between tumours and the immune system influence responses to immunotherapy, with the aim of identifying biomarkers that could help predict treatment outcomes and support more personalised cancer care.
The study involved 680 patients across three cancer types: 182 with non-small cell lung cancer, 313 with urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) and 185 with advanced cutaneous melanoma. Using advanced immunostaining and molecular profiling techniques, researchers investigated immune cell populations, their distribution within tumours and their relationship with tumour genetic characteristics.
The findings revealed distinct immune landscapes across cancer types. In lung cancer, differences in the distribution and characteristics of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were identified, highlighting their potential prognostic and predictive significance.
In melanoma, researchers identified distinct patterns of immune infiltration and associations between PD-L1 expression, immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy response. The presence of mature tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) was also associated with increased immune infiltration and may help predict treatment response.
Together, these findings highlight the potential of combining immune and molecular information to develop more reliable biomarkers for personalised cancer treatment.
The research presented at ECP 2026 reflects the collective efforts of MULTIR partners, bringing together expertise in pathology, oncology, immunology and molecular biology. Researchers from different consortium institutions contributed their scientific expertise, clinical data and research capabilities to advance the understanding of tumour–host interactions.
By combining these findings with computational pathology and artificial intelligence-based approaches, MULTIR aims to improve the prediction of immunotherapy responses and support more personalised treatment decisions.
The participation of Prof. Boussemart and Dr Pateras provided a valuable opportunity to share the consortium's scientific progress with the international pathology community and highlight the importance of collaborative European research in advancing precision oncology.
Find out more: 38th European Congress of Pathology – ECP 2026
