Specifically, this core is devoted to studies of immune responses by human cancer patients. Facilities are available for the isolation and cryopreservation of mononuclear cells from the blood, as well as single cells from liquid tumors or those prepared from solid tumors. Subset isolation, using negative depletion with monoclonal antibodies and complement, as well as monoclonal antibodies and magnetic beads, is performed at the core. The particular expertise of the Immunology Core lies in the analysis of cell mediated immune responses against autologous tumor cells. Endpoints used include measurement of proliferation, T cell and NK-mediated cytotoxicity, and cytokine secretion.
All necessary equipment is available.
The core also has a major research component directed at developing novel assays to determine anti-tumor responses by patients. This is done by concentrating on approaches that are feasible when limited amounts of material are available. The staff of the core will provide assistance to investigators who desire to learn the above techniques and carry them out in their own laboratories. Liquid nitrogen storage facilities for cryopreserving lymphocytes and tumor cells. A gamma counter to measure 51Cr release in a cytotoxicity assay.