Therapeutic Vaccine Against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Targeting The Immune Adjuvant Properties Of Natural Killer T Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,606.00
Summary
Patients with lymphoma cancers initially respond well to treatment, but later relapse with disease. The immune system can be effective at controlling cancer. A potential treatment option is to boost the natural immune response against cancer. This study investigates a vaccine that activates a certain immune cell, NKT cells, to fight lymphomas by delivering an NKT cell-activating molecule. Outcomes will allow assessment of combining an NKT-based vaccine with established treatments for lymphoma.
Combination Immunotherapeutic Strategies For Haematological Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
Patients with lymphoma cancers initially respond well to treatment, but later relapse with disease. The immune system can be effective at controlling cancer. A potential treatment option is to boost the natural immune response against cancer. This study investigates a novel vaccine that activates a certain immune cell, NKT cells, to fight lymphomas by delivering an NKT cell-activating molecule. Outcomes will allow assessment of combining an NKT-based vaccine with established treatments for lymph ....Patients with lymphoma cancers initially respond well to treatment, but later relapse with disease. The immune system can be effective at controlling cancer. A potential treatment option is to boost the natural immune response against cancer. This study investigates a novel vaccine that activates a certain immune cell, NKT cells, to fight lymphomas by delivering an NKT cell-activating molecule. Outcomes will allow assessment of combining an NKT-based vaccine with established treatments for lymphoma.Read moreRead less
Deciphering IFN Type III, TGF?, IL-10 And Adenosine Pathways In Natural Killer Cells: Enhancing The Innate Anti-metastatic Response Against Breast Cancer Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
This project will determine whether one or more factors produced in tumours (eg. cell hormones and metabolites) inhibits NK cells from controlling breast cancer spread using the best available mouse tumour models. We will use genetics to specifically delete response to these factors by NK cells. It is a completely novel approach and this information will allow for the more rational design of cancer treatments following surgery and local radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
The Role Of Cytokines In Tumor-induced Immunosuppression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$754,473.00
Summary
Cancer-induced immune suppression is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of many cancers. We have shown that the cytokine IL-23, plays an important role in cancer initiation, growth and development. My project aims to characterize the cells that produce IL-23 in the cancer microenvironment and define how it suppresses cells of the immune system. A greater understanding of this cytokine’s mechanism of action will enable the rational improvement of treatments for patients with cancer
Cancer immunology has emerged as a fundamental discipline of oncology and overwhelming new data from large patient studies reveals the importance of the immune reaction in patient prognosis. Professor Smyth has established a large body of work indicating that the immune reaction is rate limiting for the development of tumours. His previous fundamental work forms a platform to launch new studies that will greatly increase the sophistication with which we understand the various immune mechanisms t ....Cancer immunology has emerged as a fundamental discipline of oncology and overwhelming new data from large patient studies reveals the importance of the immune reaction in patient prognosis. Professor Smyth has established a large body of work indicating that the immune reaction is rate limiting for the development of tumours. His previous fundamental work forms a platform to launch new studies that will greatly increase the sophistication with which we understand the various immune mechanisms that control tumour initiation, growth and metastases. It is a major goal of Professor Smyth’s Australia Fellowship to understand why some tumours may be controlled by the immune response while others are apparently not. He has established mouse models of cancer where these questions can be directly addressed for the first time.Read moreRead less
Control Of Haematological Cancers By Natural Killer Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Haematological cancers affect the blood and lymphoid organs and are generally lethal. Therapies targeting the anti-tumour capacities of the immune system have shown promising results in cancer patients. Natural Killer (NK) cells are key players of anti-tumour immune responses. This project will provide a better understanding of NK cell-mediated control of haematological malignancies that will be directly applied to the design of new curative therapies for blood cancer patients.
Understanding Immunosuppressive Pathways In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,178.00
Summary
Cancer-induced immune suppression is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of many cancers. Suppression can be mediated by cells of the immune system, or cancers themselves. My project aims to investigate 3 suppressive pathways and determine their hierarchy in different mouse models of cancer using mouse genetics and antibody-based treatment approaches. Understanding these processes ongoing in the cancer environment will allow the design of more effective cancer therapies.
This Program team will discover new things about immunity to cancer and virus infection and translate the information into novel therapies in patients with blood or solid cancers. The approaches will include new cellular or antibody therapies, alone or in combination. We will determine new predictive biomarkers to better select patients for therapy. We will overcome treatment resistance, improve the safety of combination therapies, and determine their best scheduling and dosing.
This application will increase the impact of cancer immunotherapy on disease prevention and treatment, by developing new targets and novel combination immunotherapies. Outcomes will include an improved understanding of the immune reaction with cancer and more effective strategies to prevent cancer spread and safely target and eradicate a larger proportion of established and advanced malignant disease.
Cancer Immunotherapy Utilizing A Novel Receptor For Programmed Cell Death-1 Ligand 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,857.00
Summary
Immuno-modulators utilize the patient’s own immune system to eliminate or slow the growth of cancerous cells. We have identified a novel immuno-modulator which could be a significant player in immune-modulation therapy for the treatment of cancer. We will use the development grant to develop a product which has significant potential to be the next generation treatment for cancer.