Engineering an immune response in melanoma by targeting cytokine signalling
Lead Research Organisation:
The University of Manchester
Department Name: School of Medical Sciences
Abstract
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Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR/N013751/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2025 | |||
| 1792521 | Studentship | MR/N013751/1 | 30/09/2016 | 30/03/2020 | Christos Evangelou |
| Description | Collaboration with the startup company Cellular Therapeutics |
| Organisation | Immetacyte Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Cellular therapeutics is an early stage but fast growing star-up company aiming in developing novel T cell therapies in melanoma patient. Their work involves isolation of melanoma cells from surgically excised tumors, as well as infiltrating T cells (TILs). Their goal is to expand and activate tumor reacting TILs and then administer them back to the patients. My work aims on the identification of novel mechanisms by which the cytokine IFNg drives resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma. Since my research aims in the identification of novel mechanisms by which melanoma cells acquire resistance to immunotherapy, my findings are of great interest and benefit to an Immunotherapy company like Cellular Therapeutics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cellular Therapeutics' work involves isolation of melanoma cells from surgically excised tumors, as well as infiltrating T cells (TILs). Their goal is to expand and activate tumor reacting TILs and then administer them back to the patients. Since my work aims on the identification of novel mechanisms by which the cytokine IFNg drives resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma their panel of patient derived short term cultures and their matching T cells is a valuable tool for me, to further translate my preliminary data acquired from cell line models into the more clinically relevant patient derived melanoma cells. They also helped me established protocols for melanoma and T cell co-cultures in order to validate the role of candidate genes in the T cell mediated killing of melanoma cells. |
| Impact | I have shown already that patient derived melanoma cells retain responsiveness to IFNg, similarly to what I have previously shown for melanoma cell lines. We also performed genetic manipulation of our target genes that we believe that impact immunomodulation and therefore are involved in immunotherapy resistance, and we are now at the stage of looking at the effects of these genetic manipulations in the T cell activation and T cell mediated killing of melanoma cells. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | STEM Ambassador and involvement in some of STEM Ambassador activities in Greater Manchester e.g. Manchester Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | STEM Ambassador and involvement in some of STEM Ambassador activities in Greater Manchester e.g. Manchester Science Festival |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |