Can we unleash the power of immunotherapies against blood cancers?

What is the science behind this project?

Immunotherapies are designed to help our own white blood cells target and clear cancer cells. Many immunotherapies work by helping a special type of white blood cell, called a T Cell, fight cancer. These treatments have now been around for several years, and can work very well against solid tumours. But for some reason they are not very effective against blood cancers like CLL. 

Dr Utzschneider’s project aims to understand exactly why T cells struggle to fight CLL, and why current immunotherapies do not work efficiently for this disease. To do this, they have created a unique mouse model of CLL, that allows them to take a much deeper look at exactly how T cells respond to leukaemia. 

With this new model, the team will for the first time be able to track and genetically manipulate specific types of T cells, as they interact with CLL cells. From this they can find out what blocks the ability of T cells to respond to CLL cells in the body, and how these blocks can be overcome.  

By uncovering the key problems that stop T cells from working properly against CLL, the team hope to boost existing treatments and develop new approaches that can better help our immune system attack blood cancers.

What difference could this project make to patients in the future?

Over 4,500 people are diagnosed with CLL in the UK every year. The disease can often return, and this means that many people living with CLL often must endure several rounds of different treatments.

By working to improve the power of immunotherapies in CLL, Dr Utzschneider’s work could lead to better, more effective ways to treat people with CLL, ultimately helping patients live longer and healthier lives. This exciting new work could also eventually lead to brand new immunotherapies and cures, revolutionising how we treat people with blood cancer.