Our group focuses on using preclinical models of allogeneic blood and marrow transplant (alloBMT) to cure pediatric cancers. The goal of this research is two-fold: (1) to improve graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effects using adoptive cellular therapies, like T cell and natural killer (NK) cell infusions, and antibody-based approaches that have potential to be translated into the clinic; (2) to reduce or eliminate graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) through modulation of antigen presenting cells.
Hope On Wheels Donates $50,000 to Pediatric Cancer Research
Immunotherapy
One component of the Immunotherapy & Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Research Group is exploring methods to improve the GVT effect. T cells can recognize tumors as foreign, treating any evidence of relapsed disease. Dr. Capitini is a site investigator for clinical trials studying a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cell for relapsed leukemia.
There are other populations of lymphocytes that also contribute to the GVT effect, such as NK cells. Ongoing work is combining NK cells expanded with costimulatory molecules and gamma (c) cytokines with antibodies to stimulate NK cell proliferation and activation against several pediatric tumors in the alloBMT setting. We are also developing imaging techniques to monitor NK cell trafficking in vivo.
Engineering and Observing a Graft-vs-Tumor Effect Against Neuroblastoma
GVHD
All of the potential benefits of using alloBMT to treat cancer comes with the potential of inducing GVHD, which is caused by donor T cells attacking normal host tissues such as the liver, skin or gut. Dr. Capitini has previously demonstrated that even subclinical GVHD can have deleterious effects on the efficacy of tumor vaccines as well as promote tumor growth. He also showed a novel approach of modulating GVHD through usage of T cell depleted bone marrow deficient in gamma interferon receptor signaling. By using this platform, he has identified a molecule called STAT1, which is downstream of the gamma interferon receptor, plays a critical role in regulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and GVHD. Ongoing work is exploring the impact of pDCs and other antigen presenting cells on GVHD.
Tumor Vaccines After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation – A Lost Hope?
UW Pediatrics Grand Rounds – Christian M. Capitini, MD
Additional Research Activities
- Basic, translational and clinical research of pediatric cancers
- Adoptive cell therapies (NK cell and CAR T cell infusions)
- Models of bone marrow transplant
- Graft-versus-host-disease
- Cancer vaccines
- Antigen presenting cells
Research Opportunities – Graduate Students
For students interested in obtaining a PhD, Dr. Capitini is a trainer for the Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP), Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB), Clinical Investigation (ICTR), and Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS) Graduate Programs. For more information, please click on the link for each program above.
Research Opportunities – Postdoctoral Fellows
Interested applicants with experience in cellular immunology, tumor models and/or molecular genetics may send a cover letter, CV, and emails for 3 references to ccapitini@pediatrics.wisc.edu for consideration.
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Additional Information
Lab News
Nicholas Hess, PhD, Wins SCRMC Postdoctoral Training Award
Congratulations to Nicholas Hess, PhD, postdoctoral research associate in the laboratory of mentor Christian Capitini, MD, professor, Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, who was recently awarded a one-year traineeship from the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell …
March 3, 2021Christian Capitini, MD, Awarded Funding from Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT)
Principal Investigator Krishanu Saha, PhD, department of biomedical engineering, and co-Principal Investigator Christian Capitini, MD, associate professor, Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, along with partners at the University of Georgia, were recently awarded a …
February 23, 2021Pediatric ‘Dream Team’ Members and Others Recognized with SITC’s Team Science Award
Congratulations to Christian Capitini, MD, Kenneth DeSantes, MD, Amy Erbe-Gurel, PhD, Jacquelyn Hank, PhD, Anna Huttenlocher, MD, Mario Otto, MD, PhD, Alexander Rakhmilevich, MD, PhD, Paul Sondel, MD, PhD, and researchers at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center who were recently recognized …
January 10, 2021Christian Capitini, MD, Awarded ICTR Pilot Grant with Jenny Gumperz, PhD
Congratulations to Principal Investigator Christian Capitini, MD, along with Co-PI Jenny Gumperz, PhD, Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, and Fellow Nicholas Hess, PhD, on the funding of their pilot grant entitled, “Uncovering Predictive Cellular …
September 1, 2020Graduate Student Monica Cho Receives Cancer Biology Training Grant Support
Congratulations to Monica Cho, Graduate Research Assistant in the lab of Christian Capitini, MD, who was recently selected as a Trainee on the National Institutes of Health-funded T32 Cancer Biology Training Grant, directed by Bill …
July 2, 2020- More News...
