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| Novel approaches to cancer immunotherapy including the evaluation of monoclonal antibody therapy, and new strategies for tumor immunization | ||||||
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The laboratory of Dr. George Weiner investigates new approaches to cancer immunotherapy. He also serves as the Director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and Principal Investigator of the Iowa / Mayo Lymphoma Specialized Program in Research Excellence (SPORE). His research focuses in the following areas.
Mechanisms of action of anti-tumor monoclonal antibody therapy. Both transmembrane signaling and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) have been identified as potential mechanisms by which anti-tumor monoclonal antibodies mediate their effects. Dr. Weiner is exploring the relative role of these mechanisms of action in both animal models and clinical trials with a focus on understanding the role in ADCC played by various effector cell populations, and how these effects can be modified to enhance the anti-tumor effect of antibodies. Cancer immunotherapy utilizing immunostimulatory DNA containing the CpG motif . Oligonucleotides containing the CpG motif (CpG ODN) can have potent immunostimulatory effects. Dr. Weiner's laboratory is evaluating the use of such agents to enhance the efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapy . CpG ODN markedly enhance the efficacy of antibody therapy and may also be synergistic with some cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, particularly in B cell malignancies. Ongoing studies are exploring the cellular mechanisms responsible for this response, and the potential of CpG ODN in the immunotherapy of human cancer. The laboratory is also exploring how IL21 impacts on B cell malignancies. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the biologic effects and therapeutic potential of CpG ODN in patients with lymphoid and other malignancies. |
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| Selected Publications | ||||||
| Click Here for a Complete List of Articles | ||||||
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Leonard, J.P., Link, B., Emmanouilides, C., Gregory, S.A., Weisdorf, D., Andrey, J., Hainsworth, J., Sparano, J.A., Tsai, D.E., Horning, S., Krieg, A.M. and Weiner G.J. Phase I Trial of Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist PF-3512676 (CpG 7909) With and Following Rituximab in Patients With Recurrent Indolent and Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Clinical Cancer Research.113(20):6168-6174, 2007.
Wang, S.Y., Racila, E., Taylor, R.P. and Weiner G.J. NK-cell activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity induced by rituximab-coated target cells is inhibited by the C3b component of complement. Blood 111(3):1456-63, 2008. Racila, E., Link, B.K., Weng, W.K. Witzig, T.E., Ansell, S., Maurer, M.J., Juang, J., Dahle, C., Halwant, A., Levy, R. and Weiner G.J. A Polymorphism in the Complement Component C1qA Correlates with Prolonged Response Following Rituximab Therapy of Follicular Lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res 14(20):6697-703, 2008. |
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| Department/Program Affiliations |
| Internal Medicine |
| Biosciences |
| Immunology |
| MSTP |