Penn Institute for Immunology
IFI Members in the News
Fresh research from Katherine Nathanson, MD, deputy director of the Abramson Cancer Center, and director of Genetics at the Basser Center for BRCA, and Kara N. Maxwell, MD, PhD, an instructor of Hematology Oncology, suggests some individuals with germline BRCA1/Two mutations who develop cancer may benefit from tumor BRCA functionality testing prior to treatment.
David Fajgenbaum, MD, a research assistant professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, is part of a Philadelphia Business Journal round-up that profiles twelve millennials as they aim to improve health in their respective fields.
For as long as humans have collective the planet with mosquitoes, the objective has been to get rid of the winged pests, or at least keep them at bay. Drain the swamp. Drizzle the landscape. Put up screens and netting. And if all else fails — thwack!
Biologist Michael Povelones has a far more sophisticated, if subtle, treatment in mind: Boosting the insects’ immune system.
Explore Shows Aggressive Cancers Recruit Normal Cells to Spread Tumors by Imitating Viruses
In a investigate that could explain why some breast cancers are more aggressive than others, researchers say they now understand how cancer cells force normal cells to act like viruses, permitting tumors to grow, stand against treatment, and spread. The examine was led by Andy J. Minn, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology.
UC San Diego Takes on Cancer Therapy Pioneered at Penn Medicine
An article in the San Diego Union-Tribune about fresh immunotherapy research efforts in California mentions pioneering CAR T cell research led by Carl June, MD, director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies.
One Big Cancer Breakthrough is Likely on the Way to Patients – Here’s What May Be Coming Next
In a lump for STAT News, David Porter, MD, director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation in the Abramson Cancer Center, discusses the “CAR T revolution” and the continuing development of personalized cellular therapies. The FDA is poised to formally approve the sale of CAR T therapy by Novartis, Penn’s collaborator to research and develop CTL019.
Fresh Targets
Andy Minn and Barzin Nabet of the Perelman School of Medicine have identified how cancer cells corrupt normal cells. They force the cells into mimicking a virus, which leads to more aggressive cancer and resistance to treatment. The team now looks to potential therapeutic targets to react to the interference.
Microbes in the Mouth
People with diabetes are susceptible to periodontitis, a gum infection that can result in tooth loss. Fresh research led by Dana Graves of the School of Dental Medicine helps explain why: Diabetes triggers switches in the oral microbiome that enhance inflammation and the risk of bone loss.
Pathogenesis
Elizabeth Grice, Vijay Bhoj and Kara Maxwell of the Perelman School of Medicine have been honored for their ongoing research. Their work includes the examine of skin microbiome functions, CAR T-cell immunotherapy and the genetic makeup of tumors, respectively.
CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy Is a Big Deal for Cancer Treatment
An FDA advisory committee voted this week to recommend approval of a personalized cellular therapy for pediatric and youthfull adult leukemia developed at Penn Medicine, led by Carl June, MD, director of the Center for Cellular Therapies in the Abramson Cancer Center. The vote was the last step prior to the formal approval for sale by Novartis, Penn’s collaborator to research and develop CTL019 and other chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies.
A Cancer Very first
As reported on the front page of The Fresh York Times, a revolutionary treatment that converts a cancer patient’s own cells into a “living drug” has been recommended for approval by an FDA panel. The treatment was developed by a Perelman School of Medicine team led by Carl June and tested at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where Stephan Grupp led the effort. It has shown stunning results among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have weakened all other treatment options.
Cancer Cells Force Normal Cells to Mimic Viruses to Help Tumors Spread, Stand against Treatment
In a investigate that could explain why some breast cancers are more aggressive than others, researchers such as Andy Minn, MD, PhD say they now understand how cancer cells force normal cells to act like viruses – permitting tumors to grow, fight back treatment, and spread. The virus mimic is detected in the blood of cancer patients, particularly in cases of an aggressive type known as triple-negative breast cancer. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania say cracking the code of how this process works opens up the possibility of targeting this mechanism for treatment. They published their findings today in Cell.
FDA Advisors Say Yes to Personalized Cancer Therapy
On Wednesday, an FDA advisory committee voted unanimously to approve a personalized cellular therapy – the very first of its kind – for pediatric and youthfull adult leukemia developed at Penn Medicine. The vote is the last step before the therapy is formally approved for sale by Novartis, Penn’s collaborator to research and develop CTL019 and other forms of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Carl June, MD, director of the Center for Cellular Therapies in the Abramson Cancer Center, and Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD, director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Frontier Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, are quoted in extensive national coverage of the vote.
Immune Health
Jorge Henao-Mejia of the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been selected as a Pew Scholar in biomedical sciences for his ongoing work in immunology. His lab uses gene-editing instruments to establish the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of chronic inflammatory conditions.
Topical Antibiotics Dramatically Switch Skin Microbiome, Mouse Examine Shows
Topical antibiotics affect the microbial make up of skin long after application, while antiseptics have a smaller, less durable influence, according to a probe from Elizabeth Grice, PhD, an assistant professor of Dermatology, and Adam J. SanMiguel, PhD, a researcher in the Grice Laboratory.
Colonization
A probe led by Elizabeth Grice of the Perelman School of Medicine examined the effects of antibiotics and antiseptics on communities of bacteria that live on skin. The findings showcase antibiotics can stay and disrupt skin microbiomes days after treatment stops, whereas antiseptics do not have as strong an influence.
Sharing Microbiomes
A research project jointly led by Elizabeth Grice of the Perelman School of Medicine and Phillip Scott of the School of Veterinary Medicine found that a perturbed skin microbiome can be transmitted from an affected mouse to a healthy cell mate, predisposing the latter to a more severe case of the disease.
Advances in Pancreatic Cancer: Guidelines, Treatments, and Research
Medscape highlights the latest innovations in pancreatic cancer, including the work of Gregory L. Beatty, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Hematology Oncology, who is leading a precision medicine treatment to the disease.
Doctor Works to Cure Himself of Castleman’s Disease
David Fajgenbaum, MD, a research assistant professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, discusses his work to solve the mysteries of Castleman’s disease (CD) onNBC10. He is a CD researcher who was diagnosed with the uncommon disease five years ago.
The Private Sector Steps up the War On Cancer
In a lump on the most promising work in the cancer field, The Huffington Post recognizes Carl June, MD, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Penn, for his breakthroughs in leukemia. June received the prestigious Karnofsky Award at the two thousand seventeen ASCO Annual Meeting.
The Solution for Skin Ailments Could Be Right Under Your Nose
For decades researchers have argued that bacteria on the skin are partly to blame for certain disorders like acne and eczema. Now, it seems, bacteria may be part of the treatment, too. Elizabeth Grice, PhD, an assistant professor of Dermatology, is quoted as an experienced.
‘Biologically Relevant’
Using genome-wide association studies, Katherine Nathanson of the Perelman School of Medicine and her team identified fresh genetic locations that make some studs more susceptible to inherited testicular germ cell tumors. Their findings can help determine which patients are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
Uncommon Diseases Difficult to Diagnose, Cures Hard to Come By
David Fajgenbaum, MD, a research assistant professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, discusses his work to solve the mysteries of Castleman’s disease (CD). He is a CD researcher who was also diagnosed with the infrequent disease five years ago.
Marrow Clearance with Concurrent CAR T-Cells, Ibrutinib in Resistant CLL
Combining a fresh cellular therapy with an existing inhibitor drug has led to finish remission in some CLL patients, according to fresh research from Saar I. Gill, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Hematology Oncology, and David L. Porter, director of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
Orphan Disease Center Brings Communities, Researchers Together to Fight Uncommon Illnesses
A profile of the Penn Center for Orphan Diseases (ODC) and its “Million Dollar Bike Ride” event features quotes from James Wilson, MD, PhD, ODC director and a professor of Pediatrics; Monique Molloy, ODC executive director; and David Fajgenbaum, MD, ODC associate director of patient influence and research assistant professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics. Other Penn Medicine researchers working on infrequent diseases, including Jean Bennett, Mark Haskins, Frederick Kaplan, Reed Pyeritz, Daniel Rader, and Vera Krymskaya, are also mentioned.
Probe Uncovers Fresh Insight on Inherited Testicular Cancer Risk
A fresh probe from Katherine L. Nathanson, MD, a professor of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, identifies fresh genetic locations that could be susceptible to inherited testicular germ cell tumors. The findings could help doctors understand which dudes are at the highest risk of developing the disease and signal them to screen those patients.
Industry “Road Tests” Fresh Wave of Immune Checkpoints
John Wherry, PhD, a professor of Microbiology, comments on the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncology, “Through intelligence or just luck, we managed to stumble on the two most fundamental of these inhibitory receptors early on. There are clearly secondary pathways that play a fundamental role. And then there may be tertiary pathways that are context-specific or cell-type-specific.”
Immune Atlases Created for Kidney, Lung Cancers
E. John Wherry, PhD, director of the Institute for Immunology, is quoted on a probe exploring the creation of comprehensive “immune atlases” of cancers. He notes that the challenge is to translate this information into targeted therapies
Blood and Bone Marrow Therapies Grab Spotlight at World’s Top Cancer Meeting
Carl June, MD, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, is quoted in a story recapping the latest in CAR-T therapy from the two thousand seventeen ASCO Annual Meeting.
A Very first: All React to Gene Therapy in a Blood Cancer Probe
The Associated Press reports that the early results of a “revolutionary” fresh cell and gene therapy for numerous myeloma have been an unprecedented success. Carl June, MD, a professor of Immunotherapy and the director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, is quoted.
Carl H. June, MD, Receives ASCO’s Highest Scientific Honor
Carl June, MD, a professor of Immunotherapy and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, received the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award – ASCO’s highest award for science – for his work on CAR-T therapy.
Cancer Immunotherapy: the Hope and the Hype
Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, is quoted in a CNN story examining progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Vonderheide expects the approach’s power to be enhanced by embracing an even broader view of cancer biology and therapy, noting, “There are superb synergies, for example, from combining skill of immunology, genetics, and tumor biology that we have only just begun to realize.”