Patient-Specific B-Cell Antibody Factories to Treat Metastatic Disease
Abstract
Breast cancer patients often require surgical resection of tumor along with the tumor-draining lymph nodes which are termed sentinel lymph nodes. These sentinel lymph nodes are evaluated for any tumor cells which have metastasized from the primary tumor nodule, indicating higher grade tumors and informing clinical treatments for systemic chemotherapy. In this contract, we will apply novel technologies to identify highly reactive immune cells in patient-derived sentinel lymph nodes that indicate a patient response to unknown tumor antigenic peptides. In this initial report we have confirmed methods to identify the antibody producing B-cells from patient lymph nodes, isolated them from the tissue and cultured them in the laboratory. In addition, we have tested the tools needed to now immortalize these cultured cells and select those that react to that patients own tumor proteins/peptides. Active enrollment and processing of patient samples was delayed due to administrative approval delays, both internal and external, clinical interface training and education to assure optimal sample viability and lack of the unique immortalization virus, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). All of these initial hurdles have been overcome and we are actively engaged in the proposed contract activities as indicated in our original proposal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA565039
Entities
People
- Kevin Claffey
Organizations
- University of Connecticut Health Center