New blood cancer treatment to be developed in Southampton
Southampton researchers have been awarded funding to develop a pioneering new treatment for patients with leukaemia.
A major new grant from Blood Cancer UK will enable the team to develop a pioneering T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). It is one of the most aggressive forms of blood cancer.
The three-year project will be led by Dr Salah Mansour and Dr Ali Roghanian at the University of Southampton.
They will collaborate with Professor Kim Orchard and the Acute Leukaemia and Bone Marrow Transplant team at University Hospital Southampton.
Improving survival
AML is the most common acute leukaemia in adults.
Despite intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, fewer than one in three patients survive beyond five years. New treatments are urgently needed.
This project aims to develop a new type of treatment, called immunotherapy. This treats cancer by boosting your own immune system's ability to recognise and attack cancer cells.
The Southampton team will harness a rare type of human immune T cell to develop a new AML treatment. These are known as invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells.
‘Off-the-shelf’ treatment
The researchers have already shown iNKT cells from healthy people can kill AML cells in the laboratory.
These cells could be developed as an off-the-shelf treatment. This means they do not need to be specifically made for each individual patient.
Now, the team can investigate in more detail how iNKT cells recognise and kill AML. They will use cutting-edge single-cell analysis techniques, working with expert Dr Andres Vallejo.
They intend to test the iNKT cells in advanced preclinical models. They also plan to develop genetically engineered versions that better target human AML. These are called CAR-iNKT cells.
Dr Salah Mansour, Associate Professor in Immunology, said:
“AML remains a devastating blood cancer with far too few effective options. Our discovery that certain T cells are naturally potent against AML opens up a new way to design therapies.
“We are transforming these rare immune cells into a universal, off-the-shelf treatment, designed to reach patients more quickly and safely than current options.”
An ‘exciting opportunity’
The project will be based at the Centre for Cancer Immunology. This is the UK’s first dedicated cancer immunology centre.
It will also be based in the University of Southampton’s School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences.
Dr Ali Roghanian, Associate Professor in Cancer Immunology, added:
“This is an exciting opportunity to translate years of fundamental research into a therapy that could make a real difference for people with leukaemia. The combination of our preclinical expertise, Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, and support from Blood Cancer UK puts us in a strong position to deliver.
“We are incredibly grateful to Blood Cancer UK for this new award. Their long-standing support has been instrumental in our fight against blood cancers in Southampton, and this grant will allow us to continue our vital work for patients with AML.”
Richard Francis, Deputy Director of Research at Blood Cancer UK, said:
“We’re delighted to fund this project to help develop safer and more effective treatments for acute myeloid leukaemia, which is a hard-to-treat blood cancer. Despite advances in recent years, heartbreakingly, blood cancer is the third largest cancer killer.
“Accelerating the path for more effective treatments for those living with the disease is one of our top priorities. It takes research, dedication and long-term investment if we are to bring about a whole new generation of immunotherapies that could transform outcomes for those living with acute myeloid leukaemia and other blood cancers.”