Robert J. Soiffer, MD View Physician Profile Robert J. Soiffer, MD Associate
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Department Medical
Oncology/Hematologic Malignancies Center/Program Hematologic Oncology
Area of Research Immunomodulation and Hematopoietic Stem Cell
Transplantation Contact Information Robert J. Soiffer, MD Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute 44 Binney Street Dana 1B11 Boston, MA 02115 Office phone: (617)
632-4731 Appointment phone: (617) 632-6139 Fax: (617) 632-5168 E-mail:
robert_soiffer@dfci.harvard.edu Preferred contact method: e-mail Research The
focus of our research for the past decade has been the development of
treatment strategies to modulate the immune system of patients with cancer.
These efforts are based on studies of patients undergoing allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematologic malignancies.
Although allogeneic transplantation can cure a proportion of these individuals,
success is limited by transplant-related complications such as graft-versus-host
disease (GVHD). It has long been recognized that T lymphocytes from the donor
marrow play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. In patients undergoing
HSCT, depleting donor marrow T cells with an antibody to a T cell surface
structure results in a dramatic decrease in the incidence of GVHD. This
approach also eliminates the need for immune-suppressive medications. These
agents can be toxic, causing organ damage and increasing susceptibility to
infection. Recently we have explored strategies to selectively infuse CD8+
depleted lymphocytes in hopes of prompting graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity
without producing GVHD. We validated this strategy in a randomized trial of CD8-
depleted donor lymphocyte infusions after T cell-depleted allotransplantation,
and are now conducting further trials on CD8 depletion. While T cell depletion
reduces GVHD, its effect on immune reactivity may lead to an increased risk of
relapse of certain leukemias after transplantation. Preserving and restoring this
GVL activity without compromising safety is a major thrust of our clinical and
laboratory research. Working within the Cell Manipulation Core Facility, we have
begun to identify specific T cell populations that may play a critical role in
mediating antileukemia activity. We are exploring the role of regulatory T cells
(Tregs) in the development of GVHD and GVL reactions, and have initiated a
clinical trial to augment GVL reactivity using an antibody to CTLA4Ig, a molecule
that controls immune reactions. We are also investigating vaccination strategies
for preventing relapse in allogeneic transplant patients. Previously, in
collaboration with Dr. Glenn Dranoff, we found that vaccination with irradiated
autologous tumor cells - genetically engineered to secrete granulocyte-
macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) - induced histologic, cellular,
and humoral evidence of autologous antitumor immunity in nontransplant
patients. We are combining vaccine approaches with the administration of
allogeneic donor stem cells in hopes of inducing a synergistic antileukemia effect.
Recent Awards Lee M. Nadler "Extra Mile" Award, DFCI, 2004 Brian O'Dell
Memorial Research Award, 2001 Scholar for Clinical Research, Leukemia
Society of America, 1999 Baruj Benacerraf Fellow, DFCI, 1997 Biography Dr.
Soiffer graduated from New York University School of Medicine in 1983, and
trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he also
was chief medical resident. He joined DFCI in 1988, after completing a medical
oncology fellowship. He is currently chief of the Division of Hematologic
Malignancies and codirector of the Adult Stem Cell Transplantation Program. He
has served as vice president (2006), president (2007), and immediate past
president (2008) of the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
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