Adoptive Cell Therapy
"Using gene modification techniques, we are regulating intracellular immune checkpoints that are key to T cell function and differentiation with the aim of improving the therapeutic efficacy of adoptive cell transfer".
DR. SANDRA HERVÁS STUBBS RESEARCHER. ADOPTIVE CELL THERAPY RESEARCH GROUP
The immunology research group in Adoptive Cell Therapy at Cima focuses on the study of T lymphocytes and the development of T-cell therapy strategies for cancer treatment.
T-cell therapy is a new type of advanced and personalized medicine that uses the patient's own lymphocytes to fight tumors. In these approaches, T cells are isolated from patients, given new competencies while expanded to large numbers, and, finally, they are infused back into the patient. This type of therapy has achieved important results in hematological tumors and some solid tumors, such as melanoma, but more effective strategies need to be developed to extend this therapy to more types of cancer.
Cell therapy approaches include:
- Tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs), which possess a natural receptor, known as TCR, that allows them to recognize tumors.
- T cells genetically modified to express a tumor-specific transgenic receptor. Depending on the type of transgenic receptor we can distinguish between: TCR-T cell therapies (modified to express a tumor-specific TCR), and CAR-T cell therapies (expressing a chimeric receptor, known as CAR, capable of recognizing a tumor antigen).
Our research is focused on improving the efficacy of T-cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors, with special attention to the development of TCR therapies, given the abundance of tumor antigens that can only be recognized by these receptors.
Dra. Sandra Hervás
GROUP LEADER
+34 948 194 700 | Ext. 81 3005 | |
mshervas@unav.es |
Objectives of the Adoptive Cell Therapy Research Group
We study the role of biomarkers to select ovarian cancer-specific TILs.
We have identified a TCR against a tumor antigen present in several types of cancer. Our next objective is to transfer it to the clinic.
We investigate new methods to identify patient-specific anti-tumor TCRs.
We seek to improve CAR-T therapy in solid tumors through the local release of cells and the use of CAR-targeting vaccine.
We study the qualities that a T lymphocyte must have to be a good "performer" in cell therapy.
We develop our research in preclinical models that reflect the difficulties of T-cell therapy in the clinic.
We collaborate in the analysis of the T-cell response in clinical trials.
In short, we seek to enhance immunotherapy treatments through cross-cutting research.
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
Personalized cancer treatment
Our group has identified specific tumor characteristics in ovarian cancer that allow the selection of suitable candidates for cell therapy with TILs.
This multidisciplinary study opens the door to personalized treatment of patients with this disease.
Meet the research team
Scientific activity of the
Adoptive Cell Therapy Research Group
Latest scientific publications
- FOXP3 expression diversifies the metabolic capacity and enhances the efficacy of CD8 T cells in adoptive immunotherapy of melanoma Jan 4, 2023 | Magazine: Molecular Therapy
- Identification of HLA class I-restricted immunogenic neoantigens in triple negative breast cancer Nov 2, 2022 | Magazine: Frontiers in Immunology
- Neoantigens as potential vaccines in hepatocellular carcinoma Feb 24, 2022 | Magazine: Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
- The mutational load and a T-cell inflamed tumour phenotype identify ovarian cancer patients rendering tumour-reactive T cells from PD-1+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes Mar 1, 2021 | Magazine: British Journal of Cancer