Anchored by a passion for developing investigator-initiated clinical trials based on strong scientific rationale and integrated, programmatic research efforts, the clinical lymphoma research team of investigators is leading research in highly interactive, state-of-the-art laboratories not available anywhere else in central Ohio (and one of only a handful in the country), transforming the way lymphomas are prevented, detected, treated and, yes, cured.
Our Mission: Research That's Life Changing
At the OSUCCC – James, the clinical lymphoma research program’s mission is to work collaboratively to create and conduct impactful research that changes the lives of patients with lymphoid malignancies.
To deliver the most effective cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment, these world-renowned experts identify and understand lymphomas at the genetic level, unlocking the unique genetic and molecular code of each patient’s disease and pinpointing what makes it grow or cause symptoms – then discovering what stops it. This work extends into developing therapies focused on impacting patient’s lives to allow either cure or survival living with the disease, absent any symptoms.
Strength in Research Backed by Collaboration
The OSUCCC – James clinical lymphoma research program has a strong experimental therapeutics and clinical research focus on B- and T-cell lymphomas, including rare lymphomas such as adult T-cell lymphoma. A particularly exciting and promising area of research investigates vaccine and immunotherapies for Epstein-Barr virus-related, post-transplant lymphoma.
- Additional areas of research strength include:
- Follicular lymphoma
- Cutaneous Lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
- NK-cell lymphomas
- AIDS-related lymphoma
- New treatment methods for immune-deficient patients (HIV/AIDS and post-transplantation) who develop cancer
- Non-Hodgkin lymphomas
- Mycosis fungoides and sezary syndrome
- Blood and marrow transplantation
- Graft-vs-host disease
Recognized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, SCOR and NIH/NCI P01 as a center of excellence in mantle cell lymphoma, the clinical lymphoma research program also benefits from National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding to the OSUCCC – James, which supports the cost of conducting phase I and phase II clinical trials, and facilitates the movement of promising phase II studies into phase III national trials.
Additional affiliations and collaborations include:
- Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
- NCI, CTEP (Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program)
- Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) and trials through the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
- Lymphoma Research Consortium
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- NCI AIDS Malignancy Consortium
- Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN)
- College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Trials Office
- NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)
Clinical Trials
The OSUCCC – James has hundreds of open clinical trials at any given time, with some of the world’s latest discoveries available to clinical trial patients in Columbus, Ohio. In fact, patients have access to more cancer clinical trials here than at nearly any other hospital in the region, and they also have access to some of the most advanced, targeted treatments and drugs available.
One of many exciting research studies at the OSUCCC – James offers additional options for patients with diffuse large B-cell and mantle cell lymphomas. A new targeted oral therapy is being offered as an experimental treatment option for patients with certain advanced cancers, including lymphoma.
Known only as PRT543 while in testing, this targeted treatment molecule is among the first in an emerging class of drugs called PRMT5 inhibitors.
Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes that regulate a wide variety of cellular functions. When dysregulated, PRMTs are associated with several aggressive human cancers like diffuse large B-cell and mantle cell lymphoma, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. Research published by the OSUCCC – James and other institutions suggests that PRMT5, a member of this family, is a potential oncoprotein involved in transforming a normal cell into a cancer cell, and it could be an important target for new treatment strategies.
Led by Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD, the OSUCCC – James research team was the first to discover PRMT5 as a cancer driver and the first to develop and then report a series of novel molecules to selectively inhibit PRMT5. The team has been evaluating PRMT5 inhibitors for the therapeutic treatment of various cancers as well as benign blood and autoimmune diseases.
Current clinical trials include:
As one of only a few institutions approved by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to conduct phase I and II clinical trials on NCI-sponsored anticancer agents, the OSUCCC – James has access to more leading-edge, targeted cancer therapies than most hospitals across America. That translates to better outcomes, fewer side effects and more hope.
Who We Are
The OSUCCC – James clinical lymphoma research program team members include world-renowned specialists and sub-specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, genetic sequencing and treatment of lymphoma and blood-related diseases. This team comprises talented experts who work to seamlessly translate research to the clinic.
For additional information about a physician or researcher listed below, pleases click on the name.
- Lapo Alinari, MD, PhD
- Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD
- Gregory Behbehani, MD, PhD
- David Bond, MD
- Jonathan Brammer, MD
- Wing Chan, PhD
- Beth Christian, MD
- Naren Epperla, MD
- Walter G. Hanel, MD, PhD
- Xiaopei Huang, PhD
- Kami Maddocks, MD
- Natarajan Muthusamy, PhD
- Christopher Oakes, PhD
- John Reneau, MD, PhD
- Yazeed Sawahla, MD
- Lalit Sehgal, PhD
- Audrey M Sigmund, MD
- Chunhua Song, MD, PhD
- Timothy J Voorhees, MD
- Yiping Yang, MD, PhD
Clinical Research Accomplishments
The OSUCCC – James clinical lymphoma research program experts often present their findings and accomplishments to medical experts from around the world through presentations, publications and numerous national and international meetings and conferences they attend throughout each year.
This includes giving more than 100 scientific presentations annually, as well as earning coverage in medical journal publications. Some recent accomplishments include:
Association of Pre-Transplantation PET/CT and Outcome in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Published in Bone Marrow Transplantation – Nature.
PIs: Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD; Beth Christian, MD; Sam Penza, MD; Don Benson, MD, PhD
Improved Efficacy Using Rituximab and Brief Duration, High Intensity Chemotherapy With Filgrastim Support for Burkitt or Aggressive Lymphomas. Published in British Journal of Haematology.
PIs: Gerard Lozanski, MD
Complete Response (CR) to Induction Therapy in Patients With MYC-Positive and Double Hit Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Is Associated With Prolonged Progression-Free Survival (PFS). Published in Cancer.
PIs: Gerard Lozanski, MD; Beth Christian, MD; Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD; Kami Maddocks, MD
A Phase 1/1b Study of Rituximab, Bendamustine and Ibrutinib in Patients With Untreated and Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Published in Blood.
PIs: Kami Maddocks, MD; Beth Christian, MD; Samantha Jaglowski, MD; Gerard Lozanski, MD