Molecular structure of the IL-13 zetakine chimeric antigen receptor

Advances in surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy over the last decade have increased the cure rates of a variety of malignancies. For patients whose tumors are not eradicated, however, the impediment most frequently encountered is the inability to fully eliminate the minimal residual disease that frequently has acquired resistance to conventional treatment modalities.

Engineered CTL killing glioma tumor cells (Click to view movie)

A conceptually attractive strategy for targeting minimal residual disease is the manipulation of immunologic effector cells to specifically recognize tumor targets. Animal models and an increasing number of clinical trials have implicated the T lymphocyte as a pivotal immunologic effector cell in antitumor immunity. Technologies are now available for identifying immunogenic T-cell target epitopes expressed by human tumors, isolating antigen-specific T-cell clones and expanding these clones ex vivo to large numbers for reinfusion. Initial clinical trials for malignant glioma employing adoptive transfer of glioma-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes have commenced at City of Hope.

Stephen J. Forman, M.D., F.A.C.P. Principal Investigator 800-826-HOPE (4673)

 Research Group

Christine Brown, Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist cbrown@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 63977	Julie Ostberg, PhD. Assistant Research Scientist jostberg@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 65249	Xiuli Wang, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist xiuwang@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 63511
Wen Chung Chang, M.S. Support Scientist wchang@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64155	Brenda Aguilar, B.S. Senior Research Associate baguilar@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 6392	Renate Starr, M.S. Research Associate II rstarr@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 61135
Sean Cho, B.S. Research Associate I scho@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 63048	Hao Hong, Ph.D. Research Fellow hhong@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 63927	Leonor Velasco Research Lab Technician lvelasco@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64181

 T-cell Therapeutics and Research Lab

Araceli Hamlett, B.A. Senior Research Associate ahamlett@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64181

Jamie Wagner, B.A. Senior Research Associate jwagner@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64181

Winnie Wong, B.S. Research Associate I wiwong@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64181

Regulatory Affairs

Merle Alvarez Consultant mealvarez@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 65684

Graduate Students

Michelle Hunter, B.S. Graduate Student mhunter@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 62153	Mahesh Jonnalagadda, DVM, MS Graduate Student mjonnalagadda@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 64181	Megan Prosser, B.S. Graduate Student mprosser@coh.org 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 62153