RIKEN Researcher to discuss breakthrough discovery at the 2nd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Confe

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The Riken Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology in Japan recently announced that they had succeeded for the first time in creating cancer-specific, immune system cells called killer T lymphocytes, from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). This discovery and implications will be discussed at the 2nd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Conference in Washington DC.

Minneapolis, MN, United States., February 6, 2013 - (PressReleasePoint) - Raul Vizcardo, Ph.D, will present “Generation of Cancer Specific T Cells from Human iPS Cells” at the 2^nd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Conference in Washington DC on April 4-5, 2013, hosted by Arrowhead Publishers and Conferences. In a ground breaking development for cancer research, the Riken Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology in Japan recently announced that they had succeeded for the first time in creating cancer-specific, immune system cells called killer T lymphocytes, from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).
The team was able to reprogram mature human killer T lymphocytes into iPS cells in order to investigate how the cells differentiate and then reprogram the cells back into functional T cells. With this development, the team may be on the way to discovering the means to treating tumor cells directly, which could lead to an easing of side effects from cancer treatments.
About the development, Dr. Hiroshi Kawamoto said, "We have succeeded in the expansion of antigen-specific T cells by making iPS cells and differentiating them back into functional T cells. The next step will be to test whether these T cells can selectively kill tumor cells but not other cells in the body. If they do, these cells might be directly injected to patients for therapy. This could be realized in the not-so-distant future."
Arrowhead Publishers and Conferences’ 2nd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Conference is providing a comprehensive review of cutting edge research and development in two areas:
·         Cancer stem cells as a new category of targets for immune intervention for solid and hematological malignancies
·         Hematopoietic stem cell and T cell engineering for cancer immunotherapy
In addition to nearly twenty highly regarded physicians, scientists and researchers, the conference agenda includes three sequential tracks focused on the following topics:
·         Exploiting the hierarchical organization of hematological cancers by advancing immune interventions against stem cells
·         Tumor initiating and cancer stem cells in solid tumors: novel targets and their immunotherapeutic potential
·         Novel approaches to re-direct the immune system against cancer, by engineering hematological stem cells and memory T cells
These tracks are expected to lead to dynamic and informative discussion for all participants.
The conference brings together leading scientists and C-Level executives from across the globe to present research, case studies and viewpoints on topics related to stem cells and cancer immunotherapy.
 
Registration and information for the 2^nd Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Conference can be found at: http://www.cancerimmunotherapyconference.com
 
Source: RIKEN