The C3 IMmunotherapy Pipeline And Care Team (IMPACT) is here to advance Research and find novel therapies.
We believe that Research is Care. This is why we have assembled a multidisciplinary team of leading scientists and cholangiocarcinoma researchers at academic institutes across Canada to collaborate towards finding novel targets and therapies to use against cholangiocarcinoma. We will publish our findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present at national conferences to spread awareness and advance our knowledge of this rare cancer.
C3 IMPACT
C3 IMPACT-OV - Using "Oncolytic Viruses" against BTC
Over the last twenty years of pre-clinical and clinical research, our understanding of Oncolytic Viruses (OVs) has changed and while “oncolysis” is an important component of these agents, it is clear that an OV’s ability to act as a “mobile pharmacy” and deliver multiple potent payloads to the tumor bed creates a unique biological tool for remodeling the Tumour Microenvironment (TME). We aim to create OVs engineered to “locally manufacture” combinations of highly active immune accelerator molecules and extracellular matrix degraders. These approaches are designed to attack/exploit different aspects of the hostile BTC TME and promote homing/expansion of TILs.
Research Lead: Dr. Carolina Ilkow and Dr. John Bell, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada
C3 IMPACT-TA - Identifying "neo-Tumour Antigens" in BTC
Neo-Tumour Antigens (neo-TAs) are markers that are specific to a particular cancer (i.e., cholangiocarcinoma), that can be used to test new therapeutics targeted to the neo-TAs or as tools to help characterize and diagnose cancers. Through this research subproject, we want to look for neo-TAs from patient samples in order to generate novel therapies and diagnostic tools using the latest in scientific technology.
Research Lead: Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
C3 IMPACT-WGTS - Whole Genomes and Transcriptome Sequencing
Whole genome/transcriptome sequencing (WGTS) results and reports are large sources of information that can be used for many purposes including but not limited to predicting tumour antigens that can enhance the effects of TIL immunotherapy. We aim to carry out WGTS analysis of cholangiocarcinoma samples collected through the C3 and STAR-C trial. When WGTS results are analyzed in aggregate, correlations can be made that will help advance our knowledge of the disease and inform investigational research. We will use the data to look for novel cancer neoepitopes and tumor associated antigens.
Research Lead: Dr. Trevor Pugh, University Health Network, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario, Canada
C3 Impact-MB - Looking at the Microbiome of BTC patients
Every person's microbiome (MB) has their own unique composition. Interestingly, certain cancers have been shown to have similarities in their microbiome which can be used to inform research, treatment, and diagnostics. Therefore, we will evaluate the BTC associated microbiome using host sequence subtraction to identify any known or novel "oncomicrobes" that may be associated with BTC. Candidate oncomicrobes will be evaluated in mouse models of tumorigenesis, tumor progression and treatment resistance. This will help us to better understand their relationship with cholangiocarcinoma, and to explore novel therapeutic or preventive strategies.
Research Lead: Dr. Rob Holt, BC Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia, Canada
C3 Impact-PRO - Profiling BTC samples
In order to know how to target cholangiocarcinoma, we must know what to look for. In this research subproject, we take another approach for characterizing and identifying BTC samples by performing Immunohistochemistry on tumour samples
Research Lead: Dr. Brad Nelson, BC Cancer Research Centre, British Columbia, Canada
