A Collaboration to Refine Vaccines
IN ITS ONGOING EFFORTS TO HELP OUTSMART CANCER, THE CANCER RESEARCH SOCIETY IS PROVIDING FUNDING TO TWO INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF IMMUNOTHERAPY
MAY 29, 2018
The Cancer Research Society has joined forces with BioCanRx to provide funding for two promising projects studying infected cell vaccines (ICV) as potential treatments for patients with acute leukemia and abdominal cancers. A personalized ICV is made from an individual’s own tumour cells, which are harvested and infected with a smart virus, called an oncolytic virus that only infects and kills cancer cells, leaving normal cells healthy. This type of therapy holds promise in cancer treatments for its less toxic and invasive approach. Both projects are being led by researchers at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
Acute Leukemia project
Dr. Natasha KekreAcute leukemia is a form of blood cancer that is difficult to treat with standard therapies. Despite aggressive chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, less than 5% of patients with relapsed acute leukemia are cured. Dr. Natasha Kekre hopes to propose a solution by perfecting a personalized strategy with a virus-infected leukemia cell vaccine. This vaccine strategy combines cancer-killing viruses, an existing BioCanRx technology, with the added ability to stimulate a patient’s own immune system against the disease.
Abdominal Cancer project
Dr. Rebecca Auer et Dr. Jean-Simon DialloPeritoneal carcinomatosis (the spread of cancer throughout the abdomen) is the leading cause of death for patients with abdominal cancers. Many patients unfortunately die with massive abdominal distention, unable to eat or breathe comfortably. The study led by Dr. Rebecca Auer and Dr. Jean-Simon Diallo, aims to optimize an infected cell vaccine prior to manufacturing and clinical testing to address this pressing unmet clinical need.