Project: The therapeutic potential of unconventional T cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common type of leukemia in adults but the role that different immune cells play in combating this cancer is unclear. A recent study suggested a key role for CD1d-restricted NKT cells in controlling growth and survival of human CLL cells (2), but the study was limited in scope and mechanistic understanding. Using an extensive tissue bank of blood samples from CLL patients from various stages of disease, this project will examine the status of unconventional T cells and the potential for unconventional T cells to target and kill CLL cells in vitro.
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.