Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

About: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a nonprofit organization based out in Cape Town, South Africa. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 12322 authors who have published 30954 publications receiving 2288772 citations. The organization is also known as: Fred Hutch & The Hutch.

Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract: Head and Neck Cancer Most head and neck cancers (73% in the United States) are now related to human papillomavirus infection rather than tobacco and alcohol. Primary cancers are largely squamous-ce...

Targeted screening for induced mutations

Abstract: With the accumulation of large-scale sequence data, emphasis in genomics has shifted from determining gene structure to testing gene function, and this relies on reverse genetic methodology. Here we explore the feasibility of screening for chemically induced mutations in target sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) method combines the efficiency of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced mutagenesis1 with the ability of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) to detect base pair changes by heteroduplex analysis2. Importantly, this method generates a wide range of mutant alleles, is fast and automatable, and is applicable to any organism that can be chemically mutagenized.

Single-cell analysis of normal and FOXP3-mutant human T cells: FOXP3 expression without regulatory T cell development.

Abstract: Forkhead winged-helix transcription factor Foxp3 serves as the dedicated mediator of the genetic program governing CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cell (Tr) development and function in mice. In humans, its role in mediating Tr development has been controversial. Furthermore, the fate of Tr precursors in FOXP3 deficiency has yet to be described. Making use of flow cytometric detection of human FOXP3, we have addressed the relationship between FOXP3 expression and human Tr development. Unlike murine Foxp3− T cells, a small subset of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells transiently up-regulated FOXP3 upon in vitro stimulation. Induced FOXP3, however, did not alter cell-surface phenotype or suppress T helper 1 cytokine expression. Furthermore, only ex vivo FOXP3+ Tr cells persisted after prolonged culture, suggesting that induced FOXP3 did not activate a Tr developmental program in a significant number of cells. FOXP3 flow cytometry was also used to further characterize several patients exhibiting symptoms of immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome (IPEX) with or without FOXP3 mutations. Most patients lacked FOXP3-expressing cells, further solidifying the association between FOXP3 deficiency and immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome. Interestingly, one patient bearing a FOXP3 mutation enabling expression of stable FOXP3mut protein exhibited FOXP3mut-expressing cells among a subset of highly activated CD4+ T cells. This observation raises the possibility that the severe autoimmunity in FOXP3 deficiency can be attributed, in part, to aggressive T helper cells that have developed from Tr precursors.

Immunotherapy of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a defined ratio of CD8+ and CD4+ CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor–modified T cells

Abstract: CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–modified T cells have antitumor activity in B cell malignancies, but factors that affect toxicity and efficacy have been difficult to define because of differences in lymphodepletion and heterogeneity of CAR-T cells administered to individual patients. We conducted a clinical trial in which CD19 CAR-T cells were manufactured from defined T cell subsets and administered in a 1:1 CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of CAR-T cells to 32 adults with relapsed and/or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after cyclophosphamide (Cy)–based lymphodepletion chemotherapy with or without fludarabine (Flu). Patients who received Cy/Flu lymphodepletion had increased CAR-T cell expansion and persistence, and higher response rates [50% complete remission (CR), 72% overall response rate (ORR)] than patients who received Cy-based lymphodepletion without Flu (8% CR, 50% ORR). The CR rate in patients treated with Cy/Flu at the maximally tolerated dose was 64% (82% ORR; n = 11). Cy/Flu minimized the effects of an immune response to the murine single-chain variable fragment component of the CAR, which limited CAR-T cell expansion and clinical efficacy in patients who received Cy-based lymphodepletion without Flu. Severe cytokine release syndrome (sCRS) and grade ≥3 neurotoxicity were observed in 13 and 28% of all patients, respectively. Serum biomarkers, one day after CAR-T cell infusion, correlated with subsequent sCRS and neurotoxicity. Immunotherapy with CD19 CAR-T cells in a defined CD4 + /CD8 + ratio allowed identification of correlative factors for CAR-T cell expansion, persistence, and toxicity, and facilitated optimization of lymphodepletion that improved disease response and overall and progression-free survival.