OxCITE
OxCITE (Oxford Cancer Immunotherapy Toxicity and Efficacy) is a cohort study initiated in November 2015 with samples collected within the Oxford Radcliffe Biobank. It explores the relationships between patients’ genetics, immune systems, and response to checkpoint immunotherapy.
As of October 2024 we had recruited >430 patients, and this remains ongoing. The majority of samples are from patients receiving treatment for melanoma, but samples are also collected from patients receiving treatment for Renal Cell Cancer, Mesothelioma and Colorectal cancer that is treated with checkpoint immunotherapy.
We know very little as to why some patients have excellent responses to immunotherapy for cancer and others receive limited benefit. Similarly, our understanding as to why some patients will develop side effects – referred to as ‘immune related Adverse Events’ is poor. The goals of the OxCITE study are to identify determinants of oncological response and toxicity to Checkpoint Immunotherapy so as to better target current treatments and help develop improved therapies.