Carl H.  June, MD

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer death, and though most patients respond to initial chemotherapy, the majority will eventually relapse and die of chemotherapy resistant disease. Despite the advent of newer chemotherapies, the five-year survival for patients with advanced disease remains only 25 percent, and few patients are cured.  

In preliminary studies, we have developed genetically engineered T cells as a complementary immunotherapy to augment traditional treatment strategies. The engineered T cells eradicate large tumors in pre-clinical experiments.  

In this project, we will conduct FDA-mandated pre-clinical experiments, manufacture clinical grade vector, obtain local IRB approval and FDA and NIH/OBA RAC federal approval for the protocol, and then conduct the clinical protocol.  

The protocol will test whether the T cells that are designed to withstand the toxic effects of the tumor are able to mediate tumor regression in patients with advanced ovarian cancer that has failed to regress after chemotherapy.  

“Cure is a big word and that’s been the goal from the beginning for cell and gene therapy. It wasn’t to hit lay-ups in basketball terms, it was to hit three-pointers.”