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Location

Texas Medical Center

Specialty
Cancer
Phone: (832) 824-4671
Fax: (832) 825-4668
Email

mbrenner@bcm.edu

Address

1102 Bates Ave.Suite 1640.02
Suite 1640.02
Houston, TX 77030

Research Laboratory

Malcolm K. Brenner, MD, PhD

Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine
Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Professor, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Professor, Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Fayez Sarofim Chair, Baylor College of Medicine
Member, Executive Committee, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine

Education

School Education Degree Year
Royal Brompton Hospital, London Fellowship Hematology-Oncology 1997
University Of Cambridge PhD Doctor of Philosophy 1981
University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine Fellowship Immunology 1981
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Fellowship Medical Registrar 1978
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Internship Surgery 1976
Hammersmith Hospital-England Residency 1976
Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School Medical School Doctor of Medicine 1975
University Of Cambridge Bachelors Bachelor of Arts 1972

About

Dr. Malcolm Brenner is Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, and Houston Methodist Hospital, which is responsible for the stem cell transplant programs at these institutions. Dr. Malcolm Brenner's clinical interests span many aspects of stem cell transplantation, using genetic manipulation of cultured cells to obtain therapeutic effects.

Clinical Special Interests

  • Cell and Gene Therapy
  • Oncology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation

Organizations

Organization Name Role
British Society for Hematology Member
British Society for Immunology Member
International Society for Hematology and Graft Engineering President

Research Statement

Dr. Malcolm Brenner's primary research interest is the use of gene transfer to augment the immune response to human tumors, using vaccines and adoptive transfer of genetically modified T cells.

In neuroblastoma, Dr. Brenner and co-investigators have shown that T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) for a surface marker (GD2) on neuroblastoma cells can produce tumor responses in more than half the patients with refractory or relapsed disease leading to complete remission in 3/11 patients. His Center is also studying the benefits of T cells modified with CARs directed to other tumor antigens on hematological malignancies and solid tumors including Hodgkin Disease and Glioblastoma multiforme and initial clinical results are promising. Efforts are being made to further increase the effectiveness of these CAR-T cells by incorporating genes that enhance T cell growth and survival and that render the T cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of many human tumors.

To enhance the safety of genetically modified T cells, Dr. Brenner and colleagues have implemented an inducible caspase system that will rapidly cause apoptosis of T cells within minutes of administration of a small molecule dimerizing drug, allowing adverse effects from the T cells to be reversed. Initial clinical trials showed significant activity, and the approach is now being broadened to other novel T cell therapeutics.

Dr. Brenner’s group combines these adoptive transfer strategies with immunization against the tumors to produce synergistic benefits and clinical studies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia have recently begun.

Finally, in collaboration with the laboratories of Drs. Cliona Rooney, Helen Heslop and Catherine Bollard, Dr. Brenner is continuing to study the use of gene modified cytotoxic T lymphocytes to prevent and treat the Epstein Barr virus associated malignancies, immunoblastic lymphoma, Hodgkin disease, and nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). By transducing dendritic cells with EBV antigens, we are able to generate potent immune responses against the weak EBV latency antigens expressed in Hodgkin disease and NPC. Studies in 23 patients with relapsed or refractory EBV-positive Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients have produced complete responses in more than half. The potential to increase the effectiveness of the T-cells in vivo using monoclonal antibodies directed to immunological checkpoints is now being evaluated in clinical trials.

Learn more about the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at BCM.edu

Language

English, French



* Texas Children's Hospital physicians' licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician's office and were not verified by Texas Children's Hospital.