Stephan Mielke

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Sweden. Recent breakthroughs in cancer therapy, e.g. check-point blockade and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, highlight the potency of the immune system in controlling and eradicating cancer, but also its limitations in combating many forms of solid tumors. Major efforts are needed to better target cancer and enhance the homing, persistence and function of effector immune cells, requiring close collaboration between basic and clinical scientists. Our goal is to create a vibrant multidisciplinary center that bridges expert knowledge in the biology of cytotoxic lymphocytes – immune cells that kill cancer cells – with that of good manufacturing practice compliant production and adoptive cell therapy in the clinic. Thereby, we will foster innovative new adoptive cell therapies focused on tumor-directed lymphocytes. A major emphasis will be on recruiting and supporting outstanding young principal investigators as well as postdoctoral researchers dedicated to engineering of lymphocytes for cellular therapy of cancer. We will also establish a program for internationally leading visiting scholars to invigorate discussions and innovation within our unique research constellation. Scholars will also contribute to teaching of workshops and graduate courses. Altogether, our efforts aim to expand competence and create an international leading platform within a rapidly developing field of living drugs against cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a gynecological disease with a high mortality rate. The symptoms appear stealthily and the cancer can therefore be difficult to detect in the early phase. A large percentage of women who are affected respond well to first-line treatment (surgery and chemotherapy), but unfortunately most usually relapse within a few years and then no curative options are available. It is therefore important that research on ovarian cancer progresses so that new treatments can be developed. Immunotherapy has shown promising results against other forms of cancer, and in Prof. Mielke's group we are therefore researching the development of such an immunotherapy against ovarian cancer. Immunotherapy means a treatment that utilizes the strength of the immune system in your own body. You can say that immunotherapy helps your immune system to better 'attack' the tumor. Immunotherapy has shown successful effects against other forms of cancer in recent decades, but unfortunately immunotherapy against ovarian cancer has not yet shown good enough results, which requires further research and development for such a treatment to be approved. What suggests that immunotherapy actually has potential against ovarian cancer is that studies have found that women with ovarian cancer live longer if they have many immune cells near the tumor. The goal of the research is to develop an immunotherapy against ovarian cancer that works better than today's standard treatment. The hope is to eventually increase the survival of all patients with ovarian cancer.

Purpose and goal: SWECARNET is an open network of key representatives in the Swedish CAR T field from academia, healthcare, and industry working towards knowledge exchange and development of standardized processes for CAR T delivery and follow-up. SWECARNET’s central goal is to implement gene-modified immune effector cell therapy, such as CAR T, so that patients in need, and likely to benefit, get access to new treatments through clinical trials or as standard of care treatment independent of where they are living in the country. Expected results and effects: The collaboration in this network will facilitate the translation of advanced therapies into clinical use and create an arena for innovation within academia and healthcare to be generated in, and with help from industry to reach patients. SWECARNET is expected to be at the forefront of the field both nationally and internationally and serve as a workhorse for solving challenges around the implementation of advanced therapies. SWECARNET will act as a catalyst to increase the number of clinical trials for CAR T and other advanced therapy medicinal products in Sweden. Approach and implementation: All members in SWECARNET will be involved and work together on 8 different work packages with an assigned project leader. SWECARNET arranges quarterly meetings where we work together, follow up and report the progress made in the various work packages. SWECARNET is led by Professor Stephan Mielke, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset together with Professor Gunilla Enblad, Uppsala Universitet and Akademiska Sjukhuset.