An important aspect of CLL research is the ability to deliver specific genes to leukemic cells isolated from patients and to study the modified cells. One of the best methods to deliver a gene to CLL cells is by using an adenovirus carrying the researcher’s gene of interest. A challenge of this method is that very high concentrations of adenovirus are required to infect CLL cells efficiently.

Production and purification of high quality virus is time consuming and labor intensive. Recent developments in the field of adenoviral gene therapy have produced new techniques to dramatically improve infection efficiency and we have been constructing improved adenovirus vectors to take advantage of these developments. The result has been more efficient infection is possible with lower amounts of virus, facilitating new avenues of experimentation.

"We are thrilled with the progress of Dr. Kipps' project, which we feel exemplifies ACGT's mission to identify and support innovative concepts that have enormous potential for new treatments for cancer through gene therapy.”
Edward Netter, Founder and Board President of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)

We have also been supporting the production and testing of the adenovirus that will be used in the ISF35 gene therapy clinical trial. He worked with a preclinical testing team to assess the ISF35 treatment for any unanticipated in vivo toxicity. The results of the study were very encouraging with no indication of harmful side effects resulting from the treatment. In testing the newest preparation of clinical grade adenovirus for the ISF35 clinical trial, we found the product to be pure and highly potent at stimulating immune activation of leukemia cells. The activation of these leukemia cells and the anticipated immune stimulation resulting from the gene therapy will promote the CLL patient’s immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer cell population.

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