IU Simon Cancer Center

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You are here: HOME > Researchers > Programs > Hematopoiesis, Microenvirnoment and Immunology

Hematopoiesis, Microenvironment and Immunology

The Hematopoiesis, Microenvironment and Immunology Program has three themes:

1. Normal and Malignant Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cell Characteristics Cells from marrow, mobilized blood, and cord blood are evaluated for genes, receptors, proliferation, self-renewal, survival/apoptosis, differentiation, and migration/homing/mobilization;

2. Microenvironmental Effects on Normal and Malignant Cell Growth This includes cell actions, receptor actions and intracellular signaling for stimulation, enhancement and suppression of cell growth, survival, and movement;

3. Immunology of stem cell transplantation, immune cell activity and tumor immunology.

Understanding the functional capabilities of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and immune cells and their regulation by cytokines/chemokines and stromal cells, will allow us to design novel procedures to treat cancer and to protect and accelerate recovery of normal hematopoietic and immune cells after intensive conditioning regimens with and without stem cell transplantation. Modification of the microenvironment and of surface proteins/receptors, intracellular molecules, and cytokines/chemokines through up- or down-modulation or deletion will increase our knowledge of the roles these proteins play in regulation.

We use a multidisciplinary approach to understand the basic biology of normal and leukemic blood cell production, the ability of leukemia cells to resist chemotherapy and immunology, and aspire to translate this new information in a timely fashion to the clinic. This program has already produced a number of innovative clinical modalities including

• cord blood transplantation, mobilization and homing of stem cells,
• identification of new activities for cytokines/chemokines and the microenvironment that may accelerate recovery of normal blood cells after bone marrow transplantation, and
• the use of new drugs to reverse resistance to chemotherapy.