Research Interests
Our research focuses on developing cancer immunotherapy. We are inventing and evaluating novel therapies from preclinical research to clinical trials. We work in close contact with small biotech companies such as the Swedish based Lokon Pharma for product development.
The aim of cancer immunotherapy is to restart the immune cells to target and kill cancer cells by virtually the same mechanisms as used to kill virally infected cells. There are many approaches being tested in clinical trials around the world with promising effects. We have focused on CAR T cells and adenovirus-mediated immunostimulatory gene therapy.
CAR T Cells
T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors that allow T cells to specifically recognize and kill CD19 positive B cells are being developed in our group. We are performing a clinical Phase I/IIa trial using gene engineered T cells for patients with B cell lymphoma and leukemia together with Uppsala University Hospital (Prof Gunilla Enblad and Asc Prof Hans Hagberg) and in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and Vecura, Karolinska University Hospital.
Immunostimulatory Gene Therapy
Direct injection of gene therapy vehicles expressing immunostimulatory genes into the tumor microenvironment is being developed as a novel therapy for patients with solid tumors. In a clinical trial on malignant melanoma we are evaluating the effect of a replication-deficient adenovirus transferring the CD40L gene into the tumor. This study is done in collaboration with Prof Thomas Tötterman at Uppsala University and Asc Prof Gustav Ullenhag at Uppsala University Hospital.
For pancreatic cancer, we are developing a novel oncolytic adenovirus with immunostimulatory genes called LOAd together with Lokon Pharma and a trial is currently being planned.
Group members
Angelica Loskog, PhD, Professor of Immunotherapy (adj)
Joachim Burman, Post doc
Hannah Karlsson, PhD student
Emma Svensson, PhD student
Stina Söderlund, PhD student
Ioanna Milenova, research assistant
Wictor Gustafson, research assistant