Immunobiology of Cancer

To learn whether or not an Interferon defect in cell signaling, recently discovered in immune cells from melanoma patients as well as breast cancer patients, is common to all cancers.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Neoplasms

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that tumor-specific T cells could be identified in >50% of patients with metastatic melanoma and these cells appeared to be rendered anergic in vivo [Nature Medicine 5:677, 1999]. Recently we discovered that there is a signaling defect in the Interferon (IFN) pathway in immune cells from melanoma patients [PLOS Medicine 4:897 2007]. Interestingly, preliminary studies are showing the same defect in immune cells from breast cancer patients (unpublished). We would like to expand our research to all types of cancer to determine whether these phenomena occur in different cancer types.

OBJECTIVES

Our primary objective is to determine whether there is an IFN signaling defect in different types of cancers and to determine what is causing this defect.

The second objective is to determine whether these PBMCs are rendered anergic.

INVESTIGATIONAL PLAN

The study population will consist of patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, regardless of sex or ethnicity. Blood will be collected during the subjects regularly scheduled laboratory appointment and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be isolated for research purposes. These PBMCs will undergo studies, i.e. phosflow, qPCR, proliferation, survival, etc., to determine immune responses for T cells (CD4 and CD8), B cells (CD19), natural killer cells (CD16), and possibly monocytes (CD14).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 84

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
      • Stanford University School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants who have cancer or participants who do not have cancer and/or an autoimmune disorder and are age 18 or over.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:Participants who have cancer or participants who do not have cancer and/or an autoimmune disorder and are age 18 or over. Exclusion Criteria:Participants who have an autoimmune disorder and/or are under the age of 18 years.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Peter P Lee, Stanford University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 3, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 6, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): October 7, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 22, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 20, 2016
• Last Verified: July 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: VAR0033; SU-10012008-1313 (Other Identifier: Stanford University alternate IRB Number)