Kurzfassung

Relapse in leukemia patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains a serious clinical challenge. Thus, novel strategies to enhance long-term anti-leukemia response are highly needed. We believe that adoptive transfer of engineered leukemia stem cell (LSC)-reactive TCR-specific T cells is a promising approach to target "leukemia initiating cells" after allo-SCT. This project will include the (1) molecular characterization of leukemia stem cells (LSC) by using...Relapse in leukemia patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains a serious clinical challenge. Thus, novel strategies to enhance long-term anti-leukemia response are highly needed. We believe that adoptive transfer of engineered leukemia stem cell (LSC)-reactive TCR-specific T cells is a promising approach to target "leukemia initiating cells" after allo-SCT. This project will include the (1) molecular characterization of leukemia stem cells (LSC) by using next-generation sequencing (NGS), (2) identification of novel LSC-associated antigens, (3) engineering of LSC-specific TCRs and (4) in vitro characterization and pre-clinical validation of these TCRs in xenograft mouse models. Developing specific therapies targeting LSC or pre-leukemia cells may improve the clinical outcome in high-risk and relapsed leukemia patients after HSC transplantation.» weiterlesen» einklappen