Clinical Research Correlatives Core

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

The NCI's Clinical Research Correlatives Core (CRCC), a state-of-the art spectral flow cytometry core facility, has continued to support clinical trials conducted by the CCR investigators. The facility offers extended flow cytometry services including assay development and optimization, sample processing, acquisition and analysis. This year, the number of clinical protocols supported by the core has significantly increased and the expanded range of spectral assays offered by the facility has met with increased investigator demand. The core's staff have continued to develop, expand and customize assays to assist the core users in evaluating the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches to combat cancer. The T cell assay has been expanded to better monitor therapeutic CAR-T cells post injection and remains the most recent and significant development in the facility's operations, providing prognostic data regarding the therapeutic outcome and patient management strategy. The core continues to beta test newly developed immunophenotyping assays to accelerate their availability to the CCR investigators. The core's manager attended several conferences to stay up-to-date with the newest developments in the technology and cancer immunology and thus provide improved support to clinical investigators. Newly established and ongoing collaborations have resulted in several publications and poster presentations at 2 meetings: Annual Congress of American Association of Immunologists and Annual Congress of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (CYTO). AI-based methods of assay design and data analysis have been updated on regular basis significantly enhancing core's workflow and productivity. The core management continued to organize well-attended, NIH-wide workshops (Metaflow and OMIQ) on AI-driven analysis of flow cytometry data, which has proved to be an invaluable tool when dealing with high (30-50) parameter assays. CRCC has been supporting CCR's clinical investigators and many ongoing clinical protocols in several branches to 1) evaluate the effect of synthetic keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin) on immune reconstitution and Graft versus Host Disease in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program: Steven Pavletic and Eduard Schulz; 2) characterize the phenotype of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus-associated hematolymphoid malignancies such as Multicentric Castleman's Disease and Pleural Effusion Lymphoma (HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch: Ramya Ramaswami and Laurie Krug); 3) evaluate the effect of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant on immune reconstitution (Center for Immuno-Oncology: Christopher Kanakry, Jennifer Kanakry and Dimana Dimitrova); 4) describe the immunophenotypic changes in autologous IL-15 activated NK cells (and CAR T cells) after infusion into pediatric and young adult cancer patients (Pediatric Oncology Branch: Rosie Kaplan, Rosa Nguyen, Srivandana Akshintala; Center for Immuno-Oncology: Christopher Kanakry); 5) define the effect of immunotherapy on the phenotype and function of abnormal plasma cells in multiple myeloma (Lymphoid Malignancy Branch: Elizabeth Hill); 6) evaluate lymphocytic phenotype and function in pediatric patients with immunodeficiencies such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and DOCK8 deficiency (Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program: Sung-Yun Pai): 7) expand immunophenotyping panel (markers) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (Department of Laboratory Medicine: Raul Braylan, Dana Delgado-Colon, Constance Yuan); 8) characterize the microenvironmental impact of mature T- cell malignancies (Lymphoid Malignancies Branch: Samuel Ng; 9) evaluate the safety and efficacy of pacritnib in Myeloid Dysplastic Syndrome or Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program: Alain Mina) 10) evaluate biological factors in chronic Graft versus Host Disease (Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program: Najla El Jurdi). Additional publication containing data generated by the core (not listed in publication section): Intermediate-dose post-transplantation cyclophosphamide for myeloablative HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation.