Team In Training Texas Gulf Coast: LLS Staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas Gulf Coast LLS staff outside the research facility at
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

September 15 was "World Lymphoma Awareness Day" and the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of LLS was privileged to spend this special day touring one of the research facilities at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

This was a wonderful opportunity for the staff to get to witness first hand some of the exciting developments in research our organization is helping to fund. The site visit began with a tour through the labs of Dr. Larry Kwak, head of the department of lymphoma/myeloma and Dr. Robert Orlowski of lymphoma/myeloma. Researchers in the labs talked to us about some of the incredible advances in therapies they continue to work on, including cell therapy, vaccines and targeted antibodies.

Our next stop was a visit with the director of the Lymphoma Tissue bank, Dr. Sattva Neelapu. He and his head researcher took us into the labs where they store tumor tissue and study tumor progression. Part of the lab includes a room filled with large freezers where the tissue is stored at -180 degrees.

Following lunch, Dr. Dean Lee of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences talked to us about the cutting edge research he's doing inserting NK cells into a patient on chemotherapy. NK cells (natural killer cells) are one of the specialized white blood cells of our immune system and they can recognize and kill many types of cancer, including AML. Recently the FDA and review board at MD Anderson approved the first in-human study to test whether these NK cells can be safely delivered in combination with chemo. This clinical study is happening now and we are honored that the LLS has given a grant to Dr. Lee for this remarkable study. If successful, the approach could apply to many other types of cancer. There are already other clinical trials under development to test NK cells.

It was a great thrill to visit the famous MD Anderson Cancer Center and we feel grateful to be here in Houston where this incredible research is happening in our own back yard.