L to R
: Katherine Newman, Emmanuelle Gattuso, Dr. Tak Mak,
Jane Corkin, Paul Alofs
STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
T lymphocytes and cancer cell
Canada’s most comprehensive immune therapy program
Tapping into the power
of the immune system to
attack tumours is not a
new area of focus for The
Princess Margaret. Our
centre employs some of the
world’s top immunologists
who have been testing
new approaches in the
laboratory for over three
decades. Our esteemed
Dr. Tak Mak identified and
cloned the T-cell receptor—
considered the ‘Holy Grail’
of immunology—in our labs
back in 1984.
Today, our scientists, led by
Drs. Pam Ohashi and Naoto
Hirano, are collaborating
with pharmaceutical
companies and physicians to
take new solutions tested in
the lab to cancer patients.
Ipilimumab is a promising
drug being tested by our
team, led by Dr. David Hogg.
This drug is effective in
‘releasing the brakes’ applied
to the immune system by
certain molecules.
This drug is acknowledged
as the first and only
treatment clinically
proven to extend the lives
of melanoma patients.
However, the cost of
Ipilimumab is currently only
covered if it is prescribed
as the ‘second line’ of
treatment. Our team is
studying the use of the drug
in a clinical trial as a ‘first line’
treatment for melanoma
patients to measure
its efficacy and better
understand which patients
benefit the most.
Immune Therapy
Our donors are helping us lead the way in...
It was surreal!
Katherine Newman is a
grateful daughter, and
besides gratitude, she is full
of energy and creativity.
She wanted to raise funds
for the immune therapy
research program at
Princess Margaret Cancer
Centre that helped her
father, so she planned an
evening where the theme
of scientific innovation was
paired with the theme of
artistic innovation.
Held at The Corkin Gallery
in Toronto’s Distillery
District, the
Night of
Distortion
was inspired by
the Surrealist movement
of the 1920s where the
focus was on liberating the
imagination. 250 guests
got to enjoy a specially-
curated art exhibit
along with entertainers,
costumed staff plus
food and beverages—all
appropriately themed.
The
Night of Distortion
raised $500,000, which
Emmanuelle Gattuso
generously matched for a
total of $1 million for the
immune therapy program.
“I believe strongly in the
potential of a doctor
who wears both hats—
physician and scientist,”
stated Katherine. “My
father is being treated by
Dr. Marcus Butler, whose
passion combined with
the remarkable responses
seen in patients receiving
immune therapy, including
my father, makes it a no-
brainer—this research
deserves support.”
