Synthetic Immune Systems to Outsmart Cancer
Event details
| Date | 17.04.2018 |
| Hour | 16:15 |
| Speaker | Prof. Carl Fidgor, Radboud University, Nijmegen (NL) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE IN BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Abstract:
During the past decade we have extensively explored dendritic cell based cancer vaccines. Dendritic cells (DC) isolated from a patient are loaded with tumor antigen and immune modulators to activate dendritic cells to optimize antigen presentation and T cell stimulation. We now know that this form of immunotherapy is safe and more recently we have also started to use natural DC circulating in the blood instead of monocyte derived DC. In particular myeloid DC and plasmacytoid DC are a powerful combination, now being tested in a phase III trial.
Because with current DC based vaccinations a new vaccine must be generated for each patient, we have initiated studies to look for alternatives, where we either can target DC in vivo or even replace DC by the generation of ‘synthetic DC’. During my talk I will elaborate on these novel cancer vaccine developments and on the idea to design ‘synthetic lymph nodes’ for local cancer treatment.
Bio:
Prof. Carl Figdor investigates how we can use our immune system to fight cancer. By means of fundamental research into the function of cells in the immune system, researchers gain a better understanding of the whole process involved. Figdor's group mainly focuses on one type of cell which plays an essential part in this respect: the dendritic cell.
A number of new molecules have been identified that prove important for the proper functioning of this cell, which can be found anywhere in the human body. The dendritic cell's task is to detect foreign intruders such as viruses and bacteria in an early stage and to alert the immune system. Researchers also use dendritic cells to vaccinate cancer patients. They charge these cells with cancer cell proteins, which are then used as vaccines in experimental patient studies. The group's aim is to develop preventive vaccines, for example, for hereditary types of cancer.
Figdor is Director of the Centre for Molecular Life Sciences and head of the department of Tumour Immunology. In 2008, he was elected as a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the Spinoza Prize in 2006.
Abstract:
During the past decade we have extensively explored dendritic cell based cancer vaccines. Dendritic cells (DC) isolated from a patient are loaded with tumor antigen and immune modulators to activate dendritic cells to optimize antigen presentation and T cell stimulation. We now know that this form of immunotherapy is safe and more recently we have also started to use natural DC circulating in the blood instead of monocyte derived DC. In particular myeloid DC and plasmacytoid DC are a powerful combination, now being tested in a phase III trial.
Because with current DC based vaccinations a new vaccine must be generated for each patient, we have initiated studies to look for alternatives, where we either can target DC in vivo or even replace DC by the generation of ‘synthetic DC’. During my talk I will elaborate on these novel cancer vaccine developments and on the idea to design ‘synthetic lymph nodes’ for local cancer treatment.
Bio:
Prof. Carl Figdor investigates how we can use our immune system to fight cancer. By means of fundamental research into the function of cells in the immune system, researchers gain a better understanding of the whole process involved. Figdor's group mainly focuses on one type of cell which plays an essential part in this respect: the dendritic cell.
A number of new molecules have been identified that prove important for the proper functioning of this cell, which can be found anywhere in the human body. The dendritic cell's task is to detect foreign intruders such as viruses and bacteria in an early stage and to alert the immune system. Researchers also use dendritic cells to vaccinate cancer patients. They charge these cells with cancer cell proteins, which are then used as vaccines in experimental patient studies. The group's aim is to develop preventive vaccines, for example, for hereditary types of cancer.
Figdor is Director of the Centre for Molecular Life Sciences and head of the department of Tumour Immunology. In 2008, he was elected as a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the Spinoza Prize in 2006.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
Contact
- Institute of Bioengineering (IBI, Christina Mattsson)