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Stanford Cancer Immunotherapy Program
The Stanford Cancer Immunotherapy Program is finding new ways to harness the immune system to fight cancer. Our program includes physician scientists working across multiple cancer types to develop innovative treatments and delivery mechanisms with the potential to provide durable, robust cancer immune responses. Our efforts are advancing: patient-specific vaccines and cell-based therapies that incite your own immune defenses to attack cancer; new targets for today's therapeutic monoclonal antibodies; and the potential of cytokines and other effector molecules as therapeutic agents.
Care and Treatment
Novel Treatments and Clinical Research
Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer
By far the biggest breakthrough in cancer therapy in the past 30 years, Stanford was the first institution in the world to develop and use monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer. We are now pushing the boundaries to develop new ways to make monoclonal antibodies even more effective in fighting cancer.
FDA approved treatments
Research at Stanford has led to the development of a number of targeted therapies that are now FDA approved:
- Rituximab, the first FDA approved monoclonal antibody for the treatment of cancer and now used to treat lymphoma and many autoimmune diseases, was developed based on the work of Stanford physician scientist Ronald Levy, MD.
- Provenge, the first FDA approved therapeutic vaccine for cancer, was developed based on the work of Stanford physician scientist Edward Engleman, MD.
- Stanford also offers other cutting edge targeted therapies that
are FDA approved:
- Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody currently approved for the treatment of Melanoma.
- High Dose Interleukin-2, a cytokine signaling molecule approved for renal cell carcinoma.
Clinical protocols for new treatments
Stanford is developing innovative immune system-boosting drugs that target various mechanisms of action, as well as multi-modality treatments that combine immunotherapies:
- Anti-PD1 and anti-PDL1 monoclonal antibodies
- Cytokines, including Interleukin-15
- HyperAcute®-Pancreas (algenpantucel-L) immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer
Clinical protocols for cancer vaccines
In an attempt to limit the toxicity that can result from systemic treatment, Stanford is developing new cancer vaccines and combination therapies:
- In situ vaccinations to stimulate immune response, including intra-tumoral delivery of ipilimumab and other monoclonal antibodies for melanoma, lymphoma and colon cancer
- Combination vaccines plus cytokines: Provenge plus Interleukin-7 for castrate resistant prostate cancer
- Vaccine plus cellular immunotherapies: Immunotransplant for mantle cell lymphoma
- Vaccine trials for ovarian cancer
- PROSTVAC – a novel “off the shelf” prostate cancer vaccine
Cellular immunotherapies
Stanford is developing new protocols to isolate a patient’s own immune cells, reprogram the T-cells and reinfuse them back into the patient in order to combat cancer:
- Adoptive T cell transfer to redirect the immune system against various cancers
- Beginning in 2014, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells for ALL, CLL and B-cell Lymphoma
Blood and marrow transplantation
Stanford has long been a leader in innovation in the field of blood and marrow transplantation which relies upon immune reactivity of donor derived cells to cure patients with a broad range of hematological malignancies. Areas of active investigation include the use of immune regulatory cells to reduce the risks of immune mediated graft vs host disease and to direct the immune system towards recipient malignant cells through isolation, activation and expansion of specific natural killer and T cell populations.
For Patients
PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
Review the New Patient Packet for information about:
- What to expect on the day of your appointment
- Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
- Other patient resources
For immunotherapy questions, email immunotherapy@stanford.edu.
MEDICAL RELEASE
Please fax the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics).
International Patients
Phone: +1 1-650-723-8561
Email: IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org
Call us to make an appointment
Referrals
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday – Friday,
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics) provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as provides the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions visit Referring Physicians.
HOW TO REFER
Fax a referral form with supporting documentation to 650-320-9443.
Please note, though this form is from Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics), it is also used for all Cancer Center referrals.
Track your patients' progress and communicate with Stanford providers securely online.
