Immunotherapy strengthens the immune system so that it can recognize and destroy cancer cells. This promising treatment is already being used at the Princess Máxima Center for some cancers in care or in studies. More research is needed to make immunotherapy more effective and applicable to more forms of cancer. The Máxima Center has therefore included immunotherapy as one of the pillars of innovation in its multi-year strategy. Thanks to funding from KWF - Alpe d'HuZes, two new studies can start.
Predicting effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapy
Some children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) receive CAR T-cell therapy as part of treatment. However, the treatment is not effective in all children. To better understand the success of CAR T-cell therapy, Dr. Ruben van Boxtel, research group leader at the Máxima and Oncode Institute, Dr. Maarten Geurts, postdoctoral researcher in the Van Boxtel group, and pediatric oncologist Dr. Friso Calkoen want to find a recognition point in the DNA.
Van Boxtel is looking forward to starting the study and says, 'We are going to analyze the entire DNA and RNA of leukemia cells from children in whom CAR T-cell therapy was not effective . We hope to find recognition points that will allow us to determine in advance for each child with CAR T-cell therapy as a treatment option whether it will be effective. In this way, we increase the chances that children will receive treatment that is effective for them.'
New avenue for CAR T-cell therapy
T-lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma (T-LBLL) is the name for a group of T-cell malignancies that develop in the bone marrow, blood, or thymus. Currently, four out of five children with this type of cancer are cured with chemotherapy. To achieve a 100% cure, new treatments are needed.
Dr. Jorik van Rijn is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nierkens Group. He is grateful that with the support of KWF he can look for proteins that can be found specifically on the tumor cells of children with T-LBLL. 'When I find these proteins we can develop an immunotherapy which recognizes the proteins and attacks the tumor cells. The specific recognition means that such a type of therapy is likely to have fewer side effects. We also hope that our approach will lead to an immunotherapy that can be used for more children and is more effective than other methods currently being investigated.'
Van Rijn's research is a first step toward immunotherapy for T-LBLL. Van Rijn: 'If we indeed find suitable proteins, we want to start a clinical study, together with our colleagues in the clinic and patient organizations. I hope this research will bring us another step closer to the mission of the Máxima: To cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.'