Biological and Genetic Therapies
Previous and current research
Translational research in the group include biological therapy including the identification of new targets for immunotherapy using proteomic analyses, cellular immunology looking at the interactions between tumour antigens, exosomes and dendritic cells, biological analyses working towards gene therapy by identifying promotors which will drive the expression of genes of therapeutic interest which will be incorporated into viral vectors, principally, adenoviruses. We have an active interest in both clinical and laboratory research involving cytokines, and have run clinical trials involving interferons, IL2, IL6 and IL12. There are close collaborations with Molecular Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology. The interface between new treatments and the molecular pathology of cancers is studied especially in gastrointestinal, haematological, urological and women's cancers.
In Psychosocial Oncology we have developed automated computer based systems to evaluate quality of life and demonstrated that these systems can provide additional information to clinicians caring for cancer patients. In a randomised prospective trial it was possible to show that these systems can improve the quality of life of patients.
Within the Cancer Research UK Unit in Leeds we run a broad portfolio of clinical research. The clinical practice is organised so that it is conducted by site specialised multi-disciplinary teams, led by Professor Peter Selby, Drs Alan Anthoney, Geoff Hall, Mike Leahy, Alan Melcher, Julia Newton Bishop, Poulam Patel, Tim Perren and Matt Seymour. Drs John Chester, Dearbhaile O'Donnell and Galina Velikova have been appointed recently. Our aim is to treat patients in the context of a significant clinical trial whenever possible. Our activity encompasses phase I, II and III clinical trials. An important underlying philosophy of the unit has been to develop the clinical practice and laboratory research activity in parallel so as to maximise the effectiveness of the clinico-laboratory interface.
There are clinical trials currently active in gastrointestinal, urological, breast, ovarian and lung cancer and in melanoma and lymphoma.
Future projects
Future studies will include the development of immunological and biological treatment strategies. Studies in DNA vaccination of breast cancer, melanoma and renal cancer will start soon. Translation of dendritic cell laboratory research into clinical trials with DC vaccinations are planned using a new facility under construction. This, coupled with a laboratory programme using proteomics to identify novel cancer antigens, should give new vaccination strategies. Viral vectors with novel therapeutic constructs should result from the biotherapy programme. The role of molecular pathology to explain tumour behaviour and to help select treatments will be explored using powerful new array technologies, particularly in gastrointestinal cancers. In clinical trials, increasing emphasis on phase I clinical trials of chemotherapy will occur following the appointment of Chris Twelves as Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology. In Psychosocial Oncology in addition to the work on automated systems for measuring quality of life and its integration into clinical practice we will be increasingly exploring the behavioural genetic basis of response to diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
