Gene and immunotherapy
Led by Professor Robert Hawkins
The aim of this group is to develop improved treatments for cancer based on the immune system. Based on understanding the interaction between cancer and the immune system in patients, the group is developing appropriate technologies and evaluating new treatments using these techniques, both pre-clinically and clinically.
We have undertaken a range of clinical trials evaluating recombinant antibody molecules, cancer vaccines and cell-based therapies.
- Cancer immunobiology
Clinically evaluating a novel tumour antigen, knows as 5T4, as a target for cancer immunotherapy. 5T4 is an antigen found on the placenta and over-expressed on many common cancers - Engineered T cell programme
Expanding natural cancer-specific T cells for use in adoptive immunotherapy can be more effective than other types of cancer immunotherapy, but deriving large numbers of specific T cells is a complex and difficult issue. An attractive alternative is to use gene transfer to endow normal peripheral blood T cells with tumour-targeting capabilities and to expand these specific T cells to large numbers before using them in therapy - Clinical trials
Undertaking a range of clinical trials in novel forms of immunotherapy, in developing effective engineered T cell therapy and local, national and international clinical trials, with a particular focus on early phase trials in renal (kidney) and upper GI (oesophageal, gastric and pancreatic) cancers
For further information on the purpose and procedures involved for people interested in participating in cancer clinical trials, see: Cancer Research UK: Understanding clinical trials
Principal investigator
| Name | Job title | Email address |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Hawkins | Cancer Research UK Professor of Medical Oncology | rhawkins@picr.man.ac.uk |
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