Back row (l–r): Dr. Sascha Kretschmann, Anja Wagner, PD Dr. Simon Völkl, PD Dr. Michael Aigner (Group Leader)
Middle row (l–r): Lina Meretuk, Lena Tarantik, Luisa Albert, Stephanie Moi
Front row (l–r): Dr. Hannah Reimann, Dr. Gloria Lutzny-Geier, Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Mackensen, Stefanie Schaffer, Heidi Spreitzer
RG T cell Therapy (Aigner)
- adoptive transfer of T cells
- virus specific T cells
- CAR T cells
Manufacturing of CAR T cells
Therapy with CAR T-cell is one of the most promising developments in the last years. In an in-house GMP lab a multi-disciplinary team of Medicine 5 personnel performs manufacturing and quality control of CAR T cells.
The research group of Dr. Michael Aigner is engaged in the exploration and understanding of new cellular therapies; Research focus is the enhancement and development of T-cell immunotherapy.
Lab Members
- Dr. Michael Aigner (PI)
- Luisa Albert (PTA)
- Lina Meretuk (MSc)
- Stephanie Moi (MTA)
- Stefanie Schaffer (MTA)
- Heidi Spreitzer (MTA)
Adoptive T-Cell Transfer
Adoptive T-cell therapy aims the elimination of malignant cells by transferring immune cells. An impressive confirmation of the efficacy of transferred lymphocytes is provided in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in form of either bone marrow transplantation or the transfer of collected stem cells by leukapheresis after G-CSF mobilization of the allogeneic donor. In acute and especially chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) the graft-versus-leukemia effect - which is predominantly mediated by T-lymphocytes - is the central principle of the therapeutic SCT.
The first clinical trials of adoptive lymphocyte transfer indeed show a therapeutic effect on the tumor growth. However, the therapeutic efficacy is limited so far, so that an improvement of existing or the development of completely new approaches is needed.
In addition, T lymphocytes are critically involved in the control of viral diseases. Particularly in the first period after SCT patients often do not show sufficient immune protection which leads to the development of many serious and difficult-to-treat infections with viruses as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr viruses (EBV).
Our aim is the selection and expansion of beneficial T lymphocytes under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions, which allows us the application of these cellular products in clinical trials. Additionally, we are working on new strategies to improve the antigen-specificity and the function of the in vitro expanded T lymphocytes.
We were able to develop a protocol that allows us to collect, expand and analyze CMV/EBV-reactive T cells for the prevention and treatment of viral disease after SCT in the context of a clinical trial (Phase I/IIa) and expanding this process for other viral infections.
Our long term goal is the improvement of adoptive T-cell therapy and that our results will form the basis for a new clinical trial of adoptive T-lymphocyte therapy in patients with malignant diseases.
