The cancer cells of patients with CLL are “stealth-like” in their ability to evade immune detection. Cross-linking a protein, CD40, on the leukemia-cell can change the tumor into cells that stimulate the immune system. In precious research, we observed biologic and clinical activity without dose-limiting toxicity. We propose to generate sufficient quantities for the research to administer direct injection into enlarged lymph nodes of patients with NHL/CLL. This can be achieved using a modified cold virus to insert a gene that transforms the ligand. With this grant, we can perform a dose-escalation study testing the safety of injecting the virus directly into the lymph nodes of leukemia patients and monitor the clinical and biologic responses to therapy.

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