To mark the 30th anniversary of the Anthony Nolan Research Institute (ANRI) we’re looking at our research projects that could bring a new generation of cell therapies to the patients of the future.
30 years of research
When stem cell transplants were first pioneered in the late 1950s, they became the first modern cell therapy – and now, they are the most commonly-used cell therapy in the world, treating tens of thousands of people per year.
But cell therapies go beyond stem cell transplants, including a number of breakthrough treatments like CAR T-cell therapy that have the potential to enhance stem cell transplants and treat an even wider range of conditions beyond blood cancers and blood disorders.
Work at our research institute, ANRI, is laying the groundwork for the cell therapies of the future; discovering new ways to use the cells of the human immune system to better target cancer and improve stem cell transplants.
What are cell therapies?
Cell therapies are any treatment that involves cells being given to a patient – usually through an infusion or injection into the veins, as is done in a stem cell transplant. The cells may be from a healthy donor, or they could be the patient’s own cells that have been modified in a laboratory before being given back.
The early pioneers of stem cell transplants opened up the amazing potential of transplanted cells to regenerate, replace, and heal. The cell therapies that have been developed since then have sought to harness the flexibility and power of various types of cells, showing potential to treat conditions ranging from liver disease to brain tumours.
At Anthony Nolan, we support the development of cell therapies in several ways – including our own research on potential future cell therapies that could change the face of stem cell transplantation…
Our research: Natural killer cells
Natural killer (NK) cells are an important type of immune cell that respond quickly to infections in the body. They also play an important role in defending our bodies from cancer, by scanning for and killing any cells they can identify as cancerous.
Research in our Immunotherapy group seeks to use NK cells’ natural cancer-targeting abilities to create new cell-based treatments for people with blood cancer. The team collects NK cells from donated umbilical cord blood, which is usually a waste product from birth.
NK cells collected from cord blood are already being used to treat cancer, and our researchers are exploring ways to use NK cells to treat relapse after a stem cell transplant. But one big hurdle is that NK cells can vary from person to person. Some units of cord blood may contain NK cells that grow quickly in the lab and be highly active, whereas others may grow slowly or not be as effective at fighting cancer.
The projects in the Immunotherapy group, led by Dr Diana Hernandez, seek to improve how NK cells are selected, grown, and genetically enhanced.
“One area we’re researching is how we might be able to genetically engineer NK cells to boost their cancer-fighting capacity – it’s preliminary work but hugely exciting.
“Another important thing that makes us especially interested in NK cells is that they do not need to be genetically matched to patients – meaning they could one day become an ‘off the shelf’ therapy. This means faster treatment for any patient in need.”
Dr Diana Hernandez, Anthony Nolan's director of immune and advanced therapies.
Our research: Cell therapy for GvHD
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a potentially devastating side effect of a donor stem cell transplant. GvHD happens when some of the donated cells become overly active and start attacking the patient’s tissues, leading to a range of unpleasant and sometimes fatal effects. Our Immunotherapy group is also investigating cells from the umbilical cord that present a unique opportunity to keep GvHD in check.
The umbilical cord contains cells called mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which have been used extensively around the world during the past several decades to create regenerative therapies. What makes MSCs attractive in treating GvHD is their anti-inflammatory properties; essentially meaning they have the potential to dampen the symptoms of GvHD by quelling overactive donor cells.
Dr Hernandez’s research team is investigating how MSCs could be best utilised in stem cell transplants to reduce the impact of GvHD, or even possibly prevent its occurrence.
Since GvHD is more likely in patients with mismatched donors, this work could help address healthcare inequities by improving transplant outcomes in patients who don’t have access to a fully matched donor.
Our work alongside CAR-T
One increasingly used cell therapy for blood cancers in the UK is CAR-T therapy. This involves T cells (an important type of immune cell) being collected from a patient, before being genetically modified in a lab to more effectively fight cancer. The cells are then returned to the patient, where they ideally will eliminate any remaining cancer. There are currently several forms of CAR-T offered through the NHS, and many more are being developed.
Our Policy and Public Affairs team continue to campaign for the uptake of cell and gene therapies like CAR-T through the NHS, to provide more options for patients. Our close work with patients and healthcare providers helps us make strong cases to policy makers.
We’ve also directly supported work into a groundbreaking form of CAR-T that uses genetic engineering to modify donor cells. An Anthony Nolan donor provided the cells for the first patient to receive this new treatment – a patient who has become something of a celebrity since! Read more about Alyssa’s journey and see her visit our researchers.
Our work with cell therapy developers
Anthony Nolan donors have also provided their cells to dozens of research projects around the world, through our Cell Therapy & Laboratory Services team. We work together with academic researchers and cell therapy developers whose work has the potential to create amazing advances for patients. Blood cells from our donors who sign up to donate for medical research can help scientists bring new treatments closer to being ready for use in patients.
The future of cell therapies
What does the future hold for patients? At Anthony Nolan we’re doing everything we can to make sure that the future provides patients with more treatment options than ever before – and more pioneering cell therapies that can improve and maybe even one day replace stem cell transplants.
In another 30 years of research, we hope to be living in a world where every patient who needs a stem cell transplant can survive and thrive.
Learn more about our research impact and what 30 years of research has achieved for patients.