More than 7,300 Australians are diagnosed with lymphoma each year, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from cells called lymphocytes; a type of white blood cell that usually help the body fight infection.
Dr Tobin has received a grant from Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS), with $100,000 for one year, funded by Cancer Australia and Can Too Foundation.
Dr Tobin also received $USD50,000 from the 2023 Conquer Cancer – AstraZeneca Young Investigator Award funded by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
When lymphocytes cells have uncontrolled growth, they cause lymphoma, and treatment is dependent on several factors, such as the speed of growth and whether the growth is on a B-cell or T-cell; B-cells produce antibodies used to attack invading bacteria or toxins, while T-cells destroy cells been taken over by viruses or become cancerous.
Dr Tobin’s PdCCRS funding will enable him to research the role of lipids in immune fitness and the role of B-cells and T-cells, whilst his Conquer Cancer funding will support investigations into the metabolic reprogramming both kinds of cells in follicular lymphoma.
Dr Tobin said that although many patients with follicular lymphoma are responsive to chemotherapy, the inability of the anti-tumour immune response to remove cancer cells can lead to treatment resistance.
“It remains unclear what drives this inadequate anti-tumour immune response. My study will look at how altered metabolism impairs the immune response and allows early treatment failure in follicular lymphoma”
“If successful this study will provide a novel therapeutic approach to improve immunotherapy efficacy in follicular lymphoma.”