Chitin (500 micrograms/ml) was added to DCs in order to block their beta-glucan receptors.

Mannan (500 micrograms/ml) was added to DCs in order to block their mannan receptors.

We are collecting ascitic fluid (and blood) of ovarian cancer patients to study the presence of immature myeloid populations as compared to healthy donor blood. We have identified two candidate populations that will be tested for the ability to suppress T cells.

We are collecting blood (and ascitic fluid) of ovarian cancer patients to study the presence of immature myeloid populations as compared to healthy donor blood. We have identified two candidate populations that will be tested for the ability to suppress T cells.

Blood was collected from >10 melanoma patients and the myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) phenotype and function were compared with healthy donor derived cells. This blood was used to investigate phenotypic markers that can be used to further characterize MDSC, focusing on molecules that are related to their suppressive function.

A self-inactivating lentiviral vector expressing shRNA specific for STAT3 is now available in the laboratory.

Blood samples and tumour biopsies will be taken from these newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in order to carry out a preclinical study in which circulating tumour-specific CD8+ T-cells will be detected in their blood. In order to obtain the blood samples and tumour biopsies, a file has been submitted to the Ethics Committee of the Erasme Hospital and has been recently approved.

BruCells is developing allogeneic dendritic cell fusion vaccines as a therapeutic cancer immune therapy targeted at treating glioma or renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The active substance consists of hybrid cells resulting from the fusion of allogeneic dendritic cells (DC) with allogeneic glioma or RCC tumour cells. Therefore the fusion vaccine qualifies as a somatic cell therapy medicinal product, as defined in Part IV (Advanced therapy medicinal products) of annex I to Directive 2001/83/EC (1), as amended by Directive 2003/63/EC (2). (1) Directive 2001/83/EC...

Indium labelled E/L-S DC (without antigen loading) is administered i.v. to a patient to study the reaction with regard to DC migration.

This patient is undergoing i.v. application of indium labelled E/L-S DC (without antigen loading) in a study of DC migration.

A long-standing collaboration with Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH, UK) has led to the identification of an activity in salivary gland extracts of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus that profoundly modulates the responses of human monocyte-DC towards extrinsic stimuli. The gene for this molecule, which we have termed Japanin, has been cloned and recombinant protein has been generated. This material inhibits the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules in response to certain TLR agonists, and some cytokines but not others, and modulates the function of...

A long-standing collaboration with Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH, UK) has led to the identification of an activity in salivary gland extracts of the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus that profoundly modulates the responses of human monocyte-DC towards extrinsic stimuli. Recombinant protein has been generated from the gene for this molecule (Japanin) which had been cloned. This material inhibits the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules in response to certain TLR agonists, and some cytokines but not others, and modulates the function of the DC in ...

Manufacturing of cGMP RNA to be used as an API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) in the planned Tri-Mix DC RNA Trial will be performed after obtaining the manufacturing license for RNA loaded DCs.

To assess the importance of ROS production in DC killing ability, 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenylimino)-imidazolidine (10 microM) was added to the dendritic cells 30 minutes before stimulation.

Zymolyase was used to treat DC, which were used in a study of microrganism survival following uptake by DCs.

aHLA-DR fluorescein isothiocyanate was used to label yeast and spores.

APC-labeled streptavidin was used to detect intracellular yeasts/spores.

10 mg/ml sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin (Sigma-Aldrich) in 50 mM NaHCO3 pH 8.5 were used to biotinylate yeasts / spores for 2 hours at 4°C. The remaining reactive biotin molecules were inactivated by incubation in 100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0 for 40 minutes at 4°C. DCs were then treated with biotinylated spores/yeasts.

This vaccine was used in patients with colorectal cancer or ovarium cancer. It was well tolerated and robust p53-specific T cell responses were induced.

We have conducted a phase I long peptide vaccination trial with p53 peptides in Montanide adjuvant in patients with colorectal cancer or ovarium cancer.