In addition to its annual lectures, ChBE hosts a weekly seminar throughout the year with invited lecturers who are prominent in their fields. Unless otherwise noted, all seminars are held on Wednesdays in the Molecular Science and Engineering Building ("M" Building) in G011 (Cherry Logan Emerson Lecture Theater) at 4 p.m. Refreshments are served at 3:30 p.m. in the Emerson-Lewis Reception Salon.

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"Advancing Cancer Immunotherapy One Cell at a Time"

Navin Varadarajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston

Abstract:
Tumors are a complex mixture of tumor and host cells that have acquired the ability to proliferate and overcome programmed cell death, suppress the host immune response, and induce growth of blood vessels to sustain growth and promote metastasis.

The significance of the immune system in eliminating/suppressing the malignant cells and the ability of tumor cells and the surrounding host cells to co-opt mechanisms of immunosuppresion to enable survival is well documented. The objective of immunotherapy is to harness this specific immune response to not only enable an immediate and potent anti-tumor response but also provide lasting immunity, through the establishment of memory.

Indeed, immunotherapy infusing antibodies, vaccines, and cells has emerged as a very effective approach for the treatment of human malignancies, including ones refractory to conventional treatment regimens. Clinical trials have revealed the advantages of many immune-based therapies, including defined mechanisms of action, reduced deleterious off-target effects, and lower toxicities than conventional approaches. Immune-based therapies, such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and monoclonal antibodies are now considered the standard-of-care for many malignancies.

The engineering of either antibodies that aim to modulate the immune-system, or genetically modified immune cells, has enabled new challenges in the design and manufacture of these products, and in determining potency.

I will discuss single-cell technology platforms and molecular engineering approaches that we have developed to address these problems, and how these are being implemented to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.