Chinwag - Autumn 2019

Corporate news

Advanced immune and cell therapy team

The advanced immune and cell therapy team (AICT) is a newly established research team specialising in adoptive T-cell therapy products, such as tumour infiltrating lymphocyte therapy (TIL) and T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy, and complex immunotherapies in solid tumours. Adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) consists of isolating, with or without genetically modifying, expanding and reintroducing tumour-specific T cells (lymphocytes) into patients with cancer in order to use the patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer and create a sustained anti-tumour response. The team structure involves consultants, an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), a research nurse team leader, clinical research nurses, a senior clinical trials co-ordinator and a senior practice educator. The team has a growing portfolio of early phase trials across a range of disease areas, such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer and synovial sarcoma. The team is partially funded from the iMATCH project (Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapies Centre Hub). This is a North West consortium, led by The Christie in collaboration with Manchester Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester and other 9 commercial partners, aiming to scale-up advanced therapies for a range of conditions, not just oncology. The AICT team allows patients to access innovative treatments in the context of research and raises the profile of The Christie at a national and international level. Moreover, the iMATCH project is a unique opportunity to place Manchester at the vanguard of advanced therapies arena. Providing access to these exciting therapies in at The Christie, the AICT team reaches out to the vast population of the North West area, avoiding the need for patients to travel long distances to be treated with T-cell therapies. Extensive work has been done across the Trust to ensure staff are fully trained and educated due to the complexity of these therapies. Furthermore, as part of iMATCH, the AICT team is involved in standardising the education packages and patient pathway across the region. Internal and external partnerships with different disease areas and institutions are an essential part of the delivery of these treatments, so any suitable patient can be considered for these emerging cellular therapies in the context of a clinical trial.

In order to gain in-depth knowledge of advanced therapies, Michelle Davies (ANP) was recently awarded with a travel bursary with other Christie delegates to visit several centres of excellence in the USA. Another team achievement is the presentation of two posters in the UKCRF conference in June 2019 by Laura McNab, Michelle Davies and some research nurses from the Clinical Research Facility. The lead consultant of the AICT team is Dr Fiona Thistlethwaite, medical oncologist (advanced immune & cell therapy team/ECMT and iMATCH project director), who has been instrumental in the development of the AICT team and the wider iMATCH vision. Fiona is now joined at consultant level by Dr Manon Pillai who is working across the AICT and renal teams. Manon has significant experience of managing patients receiving cell therapies from her time as a clinical fellow at The Christie. Fiona Thistlethwaite said: “As we see CAR-T therapies coming into standard of care practice for B-cell leukaemias and lymphomas, there is great interest in extending the availability of clinical trials of cell therapy to a broader range of malignancies including solid tumours. Through the AICT we are extremely well placed to be at the leading edge of developments in this exciting field.” Early engagement with other disease teams at The Christie and other hospitals ensures that patients are referred to the AICT teams in a timely manner, maximising the chances of patients receiving these treatments. Clinicians are encouraged to refer potential patients for consideration to Dr Thistlethwaite/Dr Pillai via referral letter, mark FAO: Advanced immune and cell therapy team. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the AICT team using their email address: ATMPteam@ christie.nhs.uk or calling ext. 2325/2375. Further iMATCH information can be accessed at the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres network website: www.theattcnetwork.co.uk/

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