Avid Bioservices Inc (CDMO)

[biopharm]

a new book is out, since March 15, 2016 and one I didn't catch... but some familiar names tied to PS Targeting research:

Quote:Comprehensively explores the biology and role of MDSCs in cancer
Covers therapeutic targeting via the STAT3 pathway, a major regulatory pathway in MDSCs functions as well as in tumour cells
Particularly relevant for scientists working in the pharmaceutical industry and in oncology research

The book starts with an introduction to and history of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), followed by a description of their differentiation, their role in the tumour microenvironment and their therapeutic targeting. It closes with an outlook on future developments. In cancer patients, myelopoiesis is perturbed and instead of generating immunogenic myeloid cells (such as dendritic cells, inflammatory macrophages and granulocytes), there is an increase in highly immature MDSCs. These cells are distributed systemically, resulting in general immunosuppression. They also infiltrate tumours, promoting their progression and metastasis by inhibiting the natural anti-tumour immune response. As these cells also interact with classical anti-neoplastic treatments, they have become major therapeutic targets in the pharmaceutical industry and in oncology research.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wZozXYA9jYYJ:www.cracketc.com/myeloid-derived-suppressor-cells-and-cancer/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

My first question was a book about MDSC's... WITHOUT... Dr. Dmitry Gabrilovich as first author ??

Well... digging deeper we take one author: James Talmadge and hmmm, direct connection, collaboration with Dr. Gabrilovich can be found. I guess Dr. Gabrilovich has other things to attend to and if I may say so myself... the landscape is being prepped
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James Talmadge, Ph.D.

The Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology is focused on the role of the microenvironment and host immunity during the tumor progression and metastasis, as well as, interventional strategies to augment the host response against tumors and overcome immune suppression associated with tumor growth and myelosuppressive therapy. Our research emphasizes molecular and cellular immunology, DC vaccines, stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, T-cell responses to cytokine and molecular therapeutic intervention and the role of the host response and the tumor microenvironment to tumor progression. Our clinical and translational research is focused on the tumor microenvironment including MDSCs, DCs and T-cells; and DC vaccines primarily against breast cancer and melanoma. Clinical studies have included breast cancer vaccines in collaboration with Dr. Ken Cowan and Dr. Beth Reed at UNMC, and Dr. Dmitry Gabrilovich at Moffitt Cancer Center. A current collaboration is with Intrexon Inc. with a focus on melanoma. Early-stage studies have also focused on immune recovery following stem cell transplantation, at present, primarily in collaboration with Dr. Greg Bociek, Internal Medicine, UNMC, as regards non-myeloablative, allogeneic, stem cell transplantation.

Basic/translational research studies are focused on host-tumor interactions during tumor progression, metastasis and cytoreductive therapy. We have focused on the effect of mammary tumor growth on the expansion and trafficking of MDSCs and strategies to control proliferation and function including molecular therapeutics, such as COX-2 inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and VEGF inhibitors. Our current focus is on sites of proliferation using BrdU labeling in vivo, trafficking using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled cells, immunohistochemistry (IHC) targeting Gr1, CD11b and Ki-67 with exciting observations into extramedullary hematopoiesis. Studies into the mechanism of immunosuppression have revealed critical roles for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and VEGF in the expansion of the MDSCs and have suggested a critical role for inducible nitric oxide synthase and arginase as regional mediators of T-cell suppression. Studies in collaboration with Dr. Shi-Jian Ding, have identified a working hypothesis that post translational modification by S-nitrosylation may have a critical role in regulating the tumor-induced inflammation observed as part of tumor progression. These rodent studies have been in collaboration with Drs. Rakish Singh and Joyce Solheim at UNMC for many productive years.

The Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology is also very active (along with many others) in the development of the Biological Production Facility, which utilizes good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for the vaccines we deliver in support of our INDs to treat neoplasia. This includes the development of new vaccine manufacturing strategies and the development and validation of release assays, and protocols including flow cytometry and ELISA assays.

http://www.unmc.edu/pathology/research/immunology.html

So many more connections to revisit... Sunil Chada, Antonia, Gabrilovich, Kerstin Menander, Intrexon.... hmmm, didn't all those shares in March 2014 trade during this patent timeframe...=>yes!

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