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Overview
The Clinical Immunobiology Correlative Studies laboratory (CICSL) was founded in 2004, based on an identified need for a central laboratory dedicated to the development and implementation of cutting–edge immune correlative studies to support clinical trial protocols in the Cancer Center.
The CICSL has developed and has available a variety of assays that are based on molecular, flow Cytometry, molecular, functional, and biochemical platforms; the laboratory operates under principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).
The laboratory also houses as the Quality Control (QC) unit for the Cell Therapeutics Program within HCT, developing and performing characterization and release tests for therapeutic cell products.
Objective
The research objective of the Clinical Immunobiology Correlative Studies Laboratory (CICSL) is to support Cancer Center investigators through the development, validation, and implementation of highly quantitative immune correlative studies that will be applied to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy-based and other clinical trials at the City of Hope. CICSL assay platforms are also available to support translational projects that utilize in-vitro and model systems.
Importance
- The ability to quantitatively evaluate what has happened immunologically and molecularly in patients after receiving treatment is critical in order to obtain insight on why a particular regimen did or did not work, to guide the rational design of ultimately more effective immunotherapy strategies
- Correlative studies that are well designed and performed are increasingly being viewed as critical components to clinical trials, and standards of quality such as assay qualification/validation, statistical significance of results, and GLP lab environment will be required for results to be published in top-tier peer reviewed publications
- Since a comprehensive understanding of the effect of treatment on patients is in most circumstances lacking, there is a strong rationale to develop and apply a broad series of platforms and assays to evaluate samples and specimens obtained from patients enrolled in clinical protocols
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 Diagram illustrating the need for broad and comprehensive
correlative assays
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The laboratory has developed a wide variety of platforms and assays.
Specifically:
Flow Cytometry:
Characterization of immune cell activation/differentiation/homing status
Absolute count determination and quantification of immune cell subsets
Analysis of immune cell effector phenotypes (ICC, CD107)
MHC tetramer analysis
Intracellular cytokine staining.
Molecular:
Q-RT-PCR-based quantification of immune cell subsets (including Treg cells)
Q-RT-PCR-based quantification of mRNA levels for immune effector genes
Q-PCR-based quantification of adoptively transferred cells
Vb spectratyping
Biochemistry:
Simultaneous quantification of multiple cytokine/chemokine/growth factors in serum, tissue samples, tissue culture using Luminex bead array
Simultaneous quantification of multiple phosphoproteins in tissue culture and tissue samples using Luminex bead array
Cell-based:
CD8 and NK cytolysis bioassays
Cell proliferation assays
Blood processing, PBMC/serum/plasma isolation, freezing, and storage
In-vitro CD8 and CD4 T cell culture
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City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute have developed Shared Resources where a perceived need exists for specialized equipment, services, or expert consultation. Shared Resources with specialized instrumentation, and the expertise to apply these resources to research, have become increasingly important in recent years. Many of City of Hope's research support services are funded by the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). |
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Resources and Links
Vendors for cytokine profiling-Luminex Kits
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Because research activities in the CICSL will be primarily supported by grants submitted by City of Hope investigators as well as external sources, principal investigators should consult with and solicit the input of the CICSL director as part of the grant development and submission process.
E-mail us for pricing or more information about the Clinical Immunobiology Correlative Studies Laboratory.
Faculty & Staff
Location:
City of Hope and Beckman Research Institute
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010-3000
Building: Shapiro
Rooms: 1042 - 1044
Phone: 626-256-HOPE (4673), ext. 60497
Fax: 626-301-8261
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