Director: Jerome Ritz
Location: 44 Binney Street, JFB 313, Boston
| Core Summary: |
The CMCF helps DF/HCC investigators develop cell-based
therapies for cancer and supports
clinical research studies that evaluate the safety and efficacy of these new
treatments. The
CMCF supports clinical trials that require extensive in vitro cell manipulation.
| Personnel/Contact Information: |
Director: Jerome Ritz, M.D.
Phone: (617) 632-3465
Fax: (617) 632-5167
Email: jerome_ritz@dfci.harvard.edu
Other Staff:
Assistant Medical Director: Grace Kao, M.D.
Phone: (617) 632-5733
Fax: (617) 632-5759
Email: gskao@bics.bwh.harvard.edu
Technical Director: Darlys Schott
Phone: (617) 632-2577
Fax: (617) 632-5759
Email: darlys_schott@dfci.harvard.edu
| Facilities and Equipment: |
Location of Core:
The facility is located at DFCI, 44 Binney Street, JFB 313, Boston.
Major Equipment:
Baxter, Isolex 300i Cell Selection device
Baxter, Cytomate Cell Harvester
Miltenyi, Clinimacs Cell Selection device
| Services: |
This facility currently supports a large number of clinical
trials that require extensive in vitro
cell manipulation. At present, the cellular components produced by the CMCF
fall into four
categories:
► Hematopoietic
progenitor cell (HPC) components. The CMCF processes HPC components
requiring no manipulation, minimal manipulation and also more extensive processing
including the purging of tumor cells from autologous HPC, the positive selection
of CD34+ progenitor cells or depletion of subset of lymphocytes using the Isolex
300i or the Miltenyi Clinimac systems.
►Tumor
cell vaccines. The generation of tumor vaccines involves the production
of autologous
tumor cells genetically modified to secrete immune-stimulating cytokines such
as GM-CSF to
enhance tumor immunogenicity.
►Dendritic
cell vaccines. Dendritic cells are generated from cultured monocytes
with cytokines.
They are further genetically modified to encode tumor antigens, pulsed with
tumor-associated
peptides or tumor cell lysate, or combined with adoptive immunotherapy to enhance
tumor
rejection.
►Adoptive
immunotherapy. Protocols in this area involve the isolation, expansion,
and ex vivo
modification of defined lymphoid populations for infusion to boost specific
immunity.
Other services provided by the Core include:
►Pre-clinical
IND Preparation
►Validation
consultation
| Fee Schedule/Rates: |
Since most cell manipulation procedures are distinct and
developmental, the cost of each
procedure is determined individually for each protocol. Charges to principal
investigators are
based on the laboratory costs determined for each protocol.
There are no equivalent facilities in Boston and no other
facility can provide the unique services
of the CMCF to support clinical research of cellular therapies for patients
with cancer. Through
the Cancer Center Support of the administrative structure and staff that are
responsible for all
of the various aspects of quality control in the new facility, the cost of
manufacturing cellular
products is markedly reduced.
| Getting Started: |
To access the core, please contact Gerry Miceli at (617)
632-2251 or by email at
gerry_miceli@dfci.harvard.edu.
| Departmental Web Link: |
http://www.dfhcc.harvard.edu/core-facilities/cell-manipulation/
