Center for Immuno-Oncology
Immuno-Oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on utilizing a patient's own immune system responses to produce an individualized therapy against cancer has long been considered a promising approach in therapy. Within the last few years, we have witnessed a huge shift in the treatment of cancer globally. Immunotherapy has grown as a specialty and is considered alongside surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as the fourth cornerstone of anticancer treatment. Immunotherapy has been yielding clinical results for some time, and the most recent agents entering the clinic look even more promising.
The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute Center for Immuno-Oncology conducts clinical trials for a variety of cancers using immunotherapy. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, specialists from our Center will work with you and your current treatment team to discuss whether immunotherapy may be an option for you.
- Research and Clinical Trials - Progress made through trials
- See a list of current clinical trials. Are you eligible? Find out here
Immuno-Oncology
Paradigm-shifting therapy for all solid tumors.
Immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA4, and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, have taken center stage at recent international and national oncology meetings. Data from these paradigm-shifting therapies, initially beneficial in melanoma and renal (kidney) cancers, have shown remarkable initial efficacy in other solid tumors ; lung, ovarian and a host of other carcinomas.
As one of the most exciting areas of cancer research today, Immuno-oncology unleashes the power of the body's immune system to detect and combat tumors in a custom tailored fashion. Our Immuno-Oncology Center aims to maximize the advances of immunotherapy and take advantage of growing enthusiasm in the field, spurred by recent successes to bring these benefits to all of our patients with a wide range of cancers. The Center fosters collaborative research among laboratory and clinical investigators in many different departments at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute.
The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute has been involved with PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies since their inception. We were amongst the first to make the drug deemed by the FDA to be a “breakthrough” therapy, Pembrolizumab (MK-3475), available for patients. This data was presented and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Hamid et al.). Our very own Omid Hamid, MD presented ground breaking data with anti-PDL1 antibody MPDL328A in melanoma.
Our clinical trials program currently builds on this promise towards combinations to overcome PD1 resistance and set standards for solid tumors and lymphomas
Phase 1 Clinical Program expands at The Angeles Clinic Success developing targeted therapies in oncology depends on the ability to identify new targets and develop agents that hit those targets in an efficient manner. Major clinical advances in the care of common cancers have been made through participation of patients in Phase I clinical trials of agents that achieve this goal. Predictive oncology biomarkers - i.e., genes and genetic mutations, proteins and signalling pathways implicated in the proliferation and death of cancer cells - and their use to control tumor growth has been a major advancement allowing more efficacious therapy with decreased toxicity. Our collaboration with pharmaceutical partners has been instrumental in bringing this care to our patients.