Overview

The Cellular Immunology Laboratory is designed to bridge basic science to clinical research. The laboratory provides a means for all investigators, especially clinicians, to study cellular as well as humoral responses in cancer patients enrolled in immunotherapeutic clinical trials before and after treatment. Currently, there are several immunotherapeutic clinical trials being conducted at across the three Mayo Clinic sites in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jacksonville, Fla., and Rochester, Minn. Any of these can utilize the cellular immunology laboratory to monitor immune surveillance in their patients. In addition, the laboratory provides expertise in the use of transgenic mouse models of cancer for investigator initiated preclinical drug and vaccine trials.

Core activities are funded by The Dorrance Family Foundation and The Mayo Foundation.

Our team is pursuing basic research avenues, looking for ways to develop clinically-applicable novel immunotherapeutic strategies in combination with conventional therapies and inhibitors of tumor-induced immune suppression against solid adenocarcinomas. In particular, the focus is on pancreatic and breast cancers, since we have appropriate transgenic mouse models that develop the tumors spontaneously within the appropriate stromal and hormonal milieu, and in an immunocompetent host. We believe that preclinical studies must precede clinical trials and use of appropriate mouse models is key to the development of efficient therapeutic strategies.

Basic Research is funded by the National Cancer Institute, Susan G. Komen For the Cure, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program in Breast Cancer.