Haematology Immunology Translational Research

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Haematology Immunology Translational Research - Research at Peter Mac

The Haemotology Immunology Translational Research laboratory investigates the anti-tumour efficacy of novel immunotherapeutics to human haemopoietic disease. We focus on induction of human immune system response to disease as a hallmark of control over residual disease.

Research Focus

Translational research. Investigation of novel immunotherapy for human multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Investigation of human immune system responses to multiple myeloma in response to novel immunotherapy. Modelling the effect of novel vaccines to multiple myeloma in a humanised mouse model. Investigation of graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic transplantation.

Research Overview

The Haematology Immunology Translational Research laboratory was established in March 2007 as the interface between the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Clinical Haematology Department and the Cancer Immunology Program. The major interest in the laboratory is centred around four key areas, including the induction of tumour cell apoptosis by novel combination therapies, endocytosis of apoptotic tumour cells by dendritic cells (DCs), licensing of the DCs and induction of an anti-tumour T cell response. We hypothesise that the novel therapies currently being used in the clinical trials for multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome will induce tumour cell apoptosis and incite a tumour cell-specific T cell response and, furthermore, that the tumour-specific T cell response will control the residual disease from emerging and forming metastasis. Our approach to this hypothesis has been to ask specific questions within each clinical trial research project. We are doing this by clinical trial design as well as timing of sample collection to address therapy-related effects on the immune system and malignant disease. In addition, we are establishing a humanised model system to answer mechanistic questions that we believe will contribute insights that may be translated more readily into the clinic for treatment of haemopoietic malignancy.