ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

As the clinical trials ae planned to be done following
ICH-GCP guidelines, Contract Research
Organization (CROs) have been engaged clinical
trial and data management. CROs that have been
firmed up are:
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Neeman Medical International, New Delhi,
Manipal Acunova Ltd, Bangalore
Catalyst Clinsys Services Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
Cell based immunotherapy
Phase I studies on the development and clinical
evaluation of Dendritic cell (D.C.) vaccine derived
from autonomous mononuclear cells from peripheral
blood of patients and primed with whole cell lysates
from tumours of individual patients have been carried
out at WIA Cancer Institute, Chennai. The data
indicated that there was minimal or no toxicity or
autoimmune reaction in the vaccinated patients
whereas a DTH response was seen in 2/3 patients
receiving primed DC and CD8 infiltration elevated in
one patient indicating immune modulation. Though
no objective tumor regression was seen, the studies
were not intended to see the efficacy as it was carried
out in extensively treated patients. Encouraged by
the results, the Task Forces on “Vaccines and
Diagnostics” and “Chronic Diseases Biology”
suggested the need for setting up a full fledged
“Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy” with several
peripheral centers. A discussion meeting on “Center
for Cancer Immunotherapy” was held at Cancer
Institute (WIA), Chennai. Considering the high
quality of on-going translational work, CI, Chennai is
being considered as a Centre for Cancer
Immunotherapy (CCI) with the peripheral units as
Associated Centers for Cancer Immunotherapy
(ACCI). Institutions likely to be linked as ACCI are
NCCS, Pune; NII and AIIMS, New Delhi; ACTREC,
Mumbai, TRF, New Delhi and RLS, Mumbai.
Cancer Stem Cells: Glioblastoma multiformes
(GBM) represents one of the most malignant brain
tumors characterized by intense proliferation,
widespread invasion and poor prognosis. Tumor
DBT Annual Report 2006-07
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initiating cancer stem cells (CSC) have been found
within GBM. In a study to understand the signaling
cascades involved in the proliferation and
differentiation, CSC from GBM cell line U87MG have
been generated by a group at NBRC, Manesar. It is
now proposed to study intrinsic circuitries regulating
gene programs involved in maintenance and
differentiated.
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Neurosciences
Cancer Stem Cells generated from
gBM cell line U87MG
The Department is supporting R&D projects in the
area of neurosciences that , includes projects on
neuronal aging, cognitive malfunctioning in normal
and diseased conditions, neuro-genetic disorders
etc. The area has been identified as a priority for the
next plan bringing together scientists, clinical
partners and industries. The Department is
proposing to set up “Centers of Excellence” on
stroke, vascular biology, dementia and basic neuronbiology
in close association with NBRC, Manesar;
AIIMS, New Delhi; CMC, Vellore; NCBS, Bangalore;
and NIMHANS, Bangalore It is proposed to hold a
brainstorming on “Stroke” .
Metabolic Disorders
An elevated level of homosysteine has been
implicated as an independent risk factor in
cardiovascular diseases as well as in a variety of