Understanding why some Lymphomas are resistant to CAR-T therapy

Challenge

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of lymphoma, with an estimated 2,000 Australians diagnosed annually.

Patients who relapse early or do not respond to initial treatments often have poor outcomes. CAR-T therapy, immunotherapy is a treatment in which a patient’s own immune “T cells” are trained to kill lymphoma, has shown great promise in the treatment of DLBCL. However, CAR-T therapy is unsuccessful for more than half of patients and causes of treatment failure are unknown.

Focus

Helen’s research will use advanced technologies to study the structure and functions of components of DLBCL that are associated with resistance to CAR-T therapy and to determine why some patients do not achieve durable remission.

Impact

Helen’s research will aim to hasten the development of novel strategies and more effective CAR-T therapies for DLBCL that will provide a path of hope for ongoing remission for the patients who experience treatment failure.

Researcher

After completing her medical degree at Western Sydney University, Dr Helen Cashman completed advanced haematology training in Sydney followed by a Clinical Fellowship in Haematology in 2022 at University College London Hospital in the UK. She is currently undertaking a dedicated Lymphoma Fellowship at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.

Dr Helen Cashman completed dual haematology specialist training in 2022 and has a strong interest in lymphoma biology and treatments.