Targeting Human Dendritic Cells in a Multiple Myeloma Humanized NOD/SCID Model [ 2007 - 2009 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Slavica Vuckovic (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Laurence Catley ,  Dr Frank Vari

Brief description Adoptively transferred dendritic cells (DC) loaded with tumor associated antigen (TAA) have been shown to induce anti-tumor immunity in animal models; however, their therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients has not been established. Protective immunity has failed in the tumor-bearing host and the ability of human DC to induce anti-tumor responses in the abnormal environment of the cancer patient requires further investigation. Due to the limited capacity to investigate the DC-tumor interaction in patients, humanized animal models containing human DC and tumor provide an opportunity to obtain important new information. We propose to develop multiple myeloma (MM) as a human tumor in our humanized (hu)NOD-SCID model containing human DC, and to use this in vivo MM-huNOD-SCID model to restore immunity by correcting the human DC-tumor interaction.This knowledge will act as a fast track to select and design a new (simplified) DC-based immunotherapy to treat cancer patients and will be translated directly into our MM clinical trials program, potentially by targeting human DC based on CD205 recognition.

Funding Amount $AUD 425,696.74

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant