實驗室名稱：劉兆蓮老師研究室
主持人：劉兆蓮老師
Chao Lien Liu, Ph.D
Immunology, Oncology, Immunotherapy
Academic Title:
Assistant Professor,
School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology,
Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Immunotherapeutic effects and their molecular mechanisms investigation for cancers and/or immunodeficiency treatments
CLINICAL INTERESTS
1. Cell therapies including gamma/delta T cells, CAR-T cells, regulatory T cells; Immunomodulation; Pancreatic cancers; Ovarian cancers and colon cancers
2. Ageing immunity
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION
Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell interaction during immune cells cytotoxicity on cancers and the potential for clinical translational applications. Our laboratory aims to development of immunotherapy strategies/protocols for treating cancers and/or immunodeficiency diseases. In addition, using the tumor-xenograft humanized mouse model system, we want to uncover the important molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy as well as the in-vivo therapeutic immune responses. Currently, two prominent immunotherapy systems were investigated: gamma/delta T cells and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) T cells.
1. Ex-vivo expanded gamma/delta T cells for treating cancers
I. We study the molecular mechanisms of gamma/delta T cells cytotoxicity activities and morphological changes first in ovarian cancers treatment. We have demonstrated that ex-vivo expanded gamma/delta T cells from human PBMCs showed potent cytotoxicity towards epithelial ovarian malignancy both in-vitro and in the tumor xenograft mice.
II. In order to develop a best clinically feasible therapeutic method, we recently continue to optimize and modify different chimeric gamma/delta T cells as well as develop to target different types of cancers (ex: pancreatic cancers) to achieve the greatest enhancement in therapies. Next step will be to test the new chimeric gamma/delta T cells in the xenograft animal models.
2. Engineering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells for treating Cancers
I. T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have been successfully applied in treating patients with advanced B cell malignancies but have not well done yet in treating solid tumors specifically in the clinical trials. Our laboratory is taking several CARs approaches to combat different solid tumors, for example: ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms as well as the therapeutic efficiency by the CART cell strategy will also be investigated first using tumor xenograft mice models.
II. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor CART cells therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitor PD1/PD-L1 pathway plays an essential role in immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment and blockade of PD1/PD-L1 by monoclonal antibodies has been shown success in the treatment of several tumor types. We have developed different CARs strategies targeting PD1/PDL1 axis for further cell immunotherapy investigation. The goal is to eliminate tumor cells and build-up a potent immunotherapy protocols for clinical translation.
RESEARCH FOCUS AREA
Ovarian cancers, Pancreatic cancers, colon cancers, Immunotherapy, Immunomodulation, Ageing immunity
CONTACT US
Chao Lien Liu, Ph.D
Mail Stop: No. 250, Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
TEL: +886-2-2736-1661 ext: 3335
E-mail: chaolien@tmu.edu.tw