
Larry Anderson, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
"Identification of Novel Targets for T-Cell Immunotherapy of Myeloma"
T-cells recognizing myeloma can be detected in myeloma patients and can mediate a graft versus myeloma response following allogeneic transplantation, but the lack of defined target antigens other than idiotype has hindered the development of myeloma-specific T-cell immunotherapy. We will identify myeloma antigens recognized by CD8+ T-cells starting with two candidate myeloma antigens: MAGE-C1 (CT-7), a cancer/testis antigen, and B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA), a plasma cell differentiation antigen, both commonly over-expressed in myeloma. We will also identify antigens recognized by myeloma-reactive T-cells from myeloma patients. This work will enable the development of vaccines and adoptive T-cell therapies for myeloma.