2022 Grantee Spotlight: Dr. Robert Kreitman from the NCI, NIH
The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation is currently funding 10 exciting studies in hairy cell leukemia. The studies are being conducted at some of the world’s best cancer centers. These novel studies include research in chemotherapy-free HCL treatment, opportunities for CAR-T cell therapy in hairy cell leukemia, and genome sequencing to better differentiate between and diagnose HCL and its variants.
We’re thrilled to highlight these important studies, and the individual investigators leading them.
Today, we’re highlighting Dr. Robert Kreitman and his colleague, Dr. Evgeny Arons.
Dr. Robert Kreitman received his medical degree from the Ohio State University. After completing his residency, Dr. Kreitman joined the National Institute of Health (NIH) where he is currently a Senior Investigator. He specializes in immunotoxins and hairy cell leukemia (HCL).
Dr. Evgeny Arons is a staff scientist and member of Dr. Kreitman’s team in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Dr. Arons received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Immunogenetics from the Tel-Aviv University in Israel and completed his postdoctoral research training at NCI’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology.
Together, Dr. Kreitman and Dr. Arons are 2021/2022 HCL research grantees, having received a grant from the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation and SASS Foundation for Medical Research to study the characterization of HCL variant and unmutated IGHV4-34+ expressing variant using whole exome sequencing (WES) expression profiling. WES is a genetic test that identifies changes in a patient's DNA that are causal or related to their medical concerns. The purpose of WES is to try to find a genetic cause of a patient’s symptoms or disease.
Dr. Robert Kreitman and his team are conducting other clinical studies in HCL, including research in anti-CD22 CAR engineered T-cells. CAR T-cell therapy is used to treat cancer by using a person's immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight cancer. This is accomplished by changing the cells in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells. Dr. Kreitman and his team hope to use this innovative therapy to treat HCL.
They have also been studying binimetinib for people with relapsed/refractory HCL, specifically those with BRAF wild-type HCL and HCL variant. Most patients with HCL have a gene mutation called BRAF which investigators can target with BRAF inhibitors. Dr. Kreitman and his team are evaluating the effectiveness of binimetinib, a MEK inhibitor, in treating patients without the BRAF gene mutation.
Dr. Kreitman, his team and co-investigators from several other institutions recently published their initial findings in Dabrafenib plus trametinib. Trametinib is another MEK inhibitor.
The Center for Cancer Research is the largest division of the National Cancer Institute with nearly 250 clinical research groups that have led numerous scientific discoveries. Its mission is to improve the lives of all cancer patients by solving the gaps in cancer research. Some of their most celebrated work include the development of immunotherapy techniques and a human papillomavirus vaccine.