Studies in the T cell therapeutics group of the molecular oncology section are focused upon two primary areas. First, we are attempting to further our understanding of the processes by which the T cell arm of the immune system may be regenerated after disease or therapy-induced depletion. This involves study of T cell regeneration after bone marrow transplantation in animal models and ongoing studies of T cell regeneration in children and young adults after intensive chemotherapy. The long range goal of these efforts is to enhance T cell immunity in patients with disease or therapy-induced depletion. This would enable T-cell based therapies to be incorporated into intensive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant regimens at a time when the tumor burden is the lowest and the immune system may be particularly susceptible to manipulation. The second area of study is focused upon the investigation of immune responses to pediatric sarcomas. In particular, we are investigating whether Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors represents a tumor which expresses tumor-associated or tumor-specific antigens, and whether immune responses to such antigens could translate into effective antineoplastic therapy.

Last Updated: March 10, 2003

NCI Home Page|| NIH Home Page

© 2002-2003, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute