Experimental Haematology Laboratory (HEMEXP)

In the majority of cases, the patient’s immune system is not capable of eradicating the residual leukaemic cells that escape radiochemotherapy, as shown by the high relapse rate in such cancers. The challenge is therefore to understand the immunological environment of the cancer and the interactions between cancerous cells and the immune system. 

• One particular aspect of this field of research is understanding the rules governing the generation, in the context of leukaemia, of a class of T lymphocytes known as “regulators”. Their particular feature is their ability to block an adequate immune response. They play a key role in the absence of an effective anticancer response. We therefore compare the epigenetic expression profile (MicroRNAs) characteristic of leukaemia patients with that of healthy subjects as a prognostic and treatment monitoring tool and we identify the control mechanisms of the regulatory function. This information is essential for identifying the optimal methods of immunomodulation so as to obtain a powerful and long-lasting anticancer effect.
   
• Immunosenescence is another recent field of investigation and is central to understanding the susceptibility of older people to cancer. Immunosenescence is currently recognised as contributing to increased morbidity and mortality among older patients. Today, this hypothesis – an increased cancer rate with age and ageing due to the reduced effectiveness of antitumour immune surveillance associated with the senescence of our immune system – has been largely accepted. An important step is therefore to determine the genetic biomarkers of immunosenescence and correlate these with the characteristics of the pathologies, the patients and their future. These studies should help us to predict the chances of success and the risks of toxicity associated with treatment and thus to optimise therapeutic choices for our older and more fragile population. This research opens new horizons in the development of clinical studies including treatments targeting the immune system.
   
• A third line of research addresses fundamental and clinical questions of cancer development in Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), an aggressive type of leukemia induced by the Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1), and its animal model associated with Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV). Studying these viral models of cancer has the potential (i) to reveal novel molecular mechanisms involved in oncogenesis and (ii) to uncover strategies by which malignant cells escape immune responses.

The Laboratory has a particular interest in analysing the inhibition mechanisms of cancer cell rejection by the immune system with the goal of gaining a better understanding of how the tumour microenvironment supports and/or tolerates the growth of leukaemic cells.
In this context, our researchers are more specifically focusing on the study of global T lymphocyte dependent immunomodulation and the exploration of the different sub-types of T lymphocyte regulators in terms of transcriptome, methylome and miRome.
Our first objective is to identify prognosis predictive tumour environment biomarkers which could improve clinicians’ ability to individualise their therapeutic choice. In this context, we are studying the impact of senescence on immune response. In the longer term, we hope to open innovative approaches combining immunomodulatory therapies targeting the immune response and conventional therapies.

The Experimental Haematology Laboratory plays a teaching role and provides quality scientific training to young post-graduates working towards their PhD.

In collaboration with different universities in Belgium and abroad, researchers at the Laboratory run seminars and workshops in the field of cancer immunology.