CELLULAR GENETICS Unit (GECE)

Leader: Pierre G. COULIE
Email: Pierre.Couliegece.ucl.ac.be
contact: GECE
               Avenue Hippocrate 74 UCL 74.59
               1200 BRUXELLES
               Tel:+32 2/764.75.81
               Fax: +32 2/764.75.90
GECE Unit Directory (People)
Research interest
    Human Tumor Immunology: Human tumor cells bear antigens that are not present on normal cells and that can be specifically recognized by autologous CD4 or CD8 T lymphocytes. We contributed to the identification of several tumor-specific antigens, present on melanoma or lung carcinoma cells. Tumor-specific antigens, such as those encoded by the MAGE genes, have been used to vaccinate melanoma patients with detectable disease. About 20 % of the vaccinated patients display a tumor regression, a frequency that appears well above the level reported for spontaneous melanoma regressions. Nevertheless, the treatment fails in most patients, and this can probably only be improved if a better understanding of the immune responses of the patients is acquired. Our group focuses on such analyses.

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