Dr Zsuzsanna Tabi
Reader
- tabiz@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2251 0550
- G16, Tenovus Building, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN
Overview
Summary
My research focuses on the role of the immune system in cancer. I am especially interested in the effect the tumour microenvironment exerts on the function of immune cells. It is important to understand how this complex interaction can be manipulated, in order to reverse localised immunosuppression and improve the outcome of conventional and novel therapeutic approaches. The projects in my laboratory are patient-based and incorporate translational elements, designed to aid the development of personalised cancer treatment.
Current/Recent Research Funding
British Lung Foundation. Project Grant. Optimising/modelling immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments in mesothelioma. 2018-2021.
Sasakawa Foundation - PhD exchange studentship with Sapporo University, Japan. 2017.
Cardiff University, Medical School - PhD studentship. 2017-2020.
MesobanK UK. Development of primary mesothelioma cell lines for gene profiling and drug susceptibility testing. 2015-2018
MRC-GW4 – PhD studentship. 2016-2019.
Tenovus Cancer Care – PhD studentship. Are cancer stem cells susceptible to T cell killing? Amy Codd. 2015-2018.
British Lung Foundation – Project Grant (PI) Heterotypic spheroids for the study of stromal influence on drug- and immune resistance in mesothelioma. 2014-2017.
Cancer Research Wales – Program Grant. The development and immunosuppressive nature of tumour stroma in prostate cancer. 2011-2017.
June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund – Clinical Trial Grant. Application of TroVax® in MPM patients receiving pemetrexed/cisplatin chemotherapy. 2010-2016.
MRC/Cardiff University I3 IRG – PhD Studentship. TLR4 polymorphism and antigen cross-presentation in cancer. 2010-2014.
Biography
Career overview
2017 - present. Reader. Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
2005 - 2017: Senior Lecturer, Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
2002-2005: Senior Research Fellow, Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
Research Fellow, The University of Queensland, RBH, Brisbane, Australia.
Research Officer, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, USA.
Education and qualifications
PhD in viral immunology. John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
MSc/BSc. 1st Class Hon. in biology/biochemistry. Attila József University, Szeged, Hungary
Publications
2022
- Knight, R. et al. 2022. Oral progenitor cell line-derived small extracellular vesicles as a treatment for preferential wound healing outcome. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 11(8), pp. 861-875. (10.1093/stcltm/szac037)
2021
- Evans, L., Milward, K., Attanoos, R., Clayton, A., Errington, R. and Tabi, Z. 2021. Macrophage plasticity and function in the lung tumour microenvironment revealed in 3D heterotypic spheroid and explant models. Biomedicines 9(3), article number: 302. (10.3390/biomedicines9030302)
2018
- Hill, K., Portman, M. and Tabi, Z. 2018. Meet the researchers: an alternative method of engaging patients with research in mesothelioma. Research Involvement and Engagement 4(1), article number: 33. (10.1186/s40900-018-0119-x)
- Codd, A. S., Kanaseki, T., Torigo, T. and Tabi, Z. 2018. Cancer stem cells as targets for immunotherapy. Immunology 153(3), pp. 304-314. (10.1111/imm.12866)
- Lester, J. F. et al. 2018. A single centre phase II trial to assess the immunological activity of TroVax® plus pemetrexed/cisplatin in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma - the SKOPOS trial. OncoImmunology 7(12), article number: e1457597. (10.1080/2162402X.2018.1457597)
2017
- Salimu, J., Webber, J., Gurney, M., Al-Taei, S., Clayton, A. and Tabi, Z. 2017. Dominant immunosuppression of dendritic cell function by prostate-cancer-derived exosomes. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 6(1), article number: 1368823. (10.1080/20013078.2017.1368823)
2016
- Al-Taei, S., Salimu, J., Spary, L. K., Clayton, A., Lester, J. F. and Tabi, Z. 2016. Prostaglandin E2-mediated adenosinergic effects on CD14+ cells: self-amplifying immunosuppression in cancer. OncoImmunology 6(2), pp. 312-318., article number: e1268308. (10.1080/2162402X.2016.1268308)
- Codd, A., Al-Taei, S. and Tabi, Z. 2016. Cross-talk between cancer-initiating cells and immune cells: considerations for combination therapies. Annals of Translational Medicine 4(S1), pp. S56. (10.21037/atm.2016.10.30)
- Welton, J. . L. et al. 2016. Proteomics analysis of vesicles isolated from plasma and urine of prostate cancer patients using a multiplex, aptamer-based protein array. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 5, article number: 31209. (10.3402/jev.v5.31209)
- Webber, J. P., Spary, L. K., Mason, M. D., Tabi, Z., Brewis, I. A. and Clayton, A. 2016. Prostate stromal cell proteomics analysis discriminates normal from tumour reactive stromal phenotypes. Oncotarget 7, pp. 20124-20139. (10.18632/oncotarget.7716)
- Morgan, R. et al. 2016. HOX transcription factors are potential targets and markers in malignant mesothelioma. BMC Cancer 16(1), article number: 85. (10.1186/s12885-016-2106-7)
- Rintoul, R. C., Rassl, D. M., Gittins, J., Marciniak, S. J., Tabi, Z. and MesobanK collaborators, . 2016. MesobanK UK: an international mesothelioma bioresource. Thorax 71(4), pp. 380-382. (10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207496)
2015
- Salimu, J., Spary, L. K., Al-Taei, S., Clayton, A., Mason, M. D., Staffurth, J. and Tabi, Z. 2015. Cross-Presentation of the Oncofetal Tumor Antigen 5T4 from Irradiated Prostate Cancer Cells—A Key Role for Heat-Shock Protein 70 and Receptor CD91. Cancer Immunology Research 3(6), pp. 678-688. (10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-14-0079)
- Chowdhury, R., Webber, J. P., Gurney, M., Mason, M. D., Tabi, Z. and Clayton, A. 2015. Cancer exosomes trigger mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into pro-angiogenic and pro-invasive myofibroblasts. Oncotarget 6(2), pp. 715-731. (10.18632/oncotarget.2711)
- Webber, J. P. et al. 2015. Differentiation of tumour-promoting stromal myofibroblasts by cancer exosomes. Oncogene 34(3), pp. 290-302. (10.1038/onc.2013.560)
2014
- Spary, L. K., Salimu, J., Webber, J. P., Clayton, A., Mason, M. d. and Tabi, Z. 2014. Tumor stroma-derived factors skew monocyte to dendritic cell differentiation toward a suppressive CD14+PD-L1+phenotype in prostate cancer. OncoImmunology 3(9), article number: e955331. (10.4161/21624011.2014.955331)
- Webber, J. et al. 2014. Proteomics analysis of cancer exosomes using a novel modified aptamer-based array (SOMAscanTM) platform. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 13(4), pp. 1050-1064. (10.1074/mcp.M113.032136)
- Spary, L. K. et al. 2014. Enhancement of T cell responses as a result of synergy between lower doses of radiation and T cell stimulation. The Journal of Immunology 192(7), pp. 3101-3110. (10.4049/jimmunol.1302736)
2013
- Al-Taei, S., Banner, R., Powell, N. G., Evans, M., Palaniappan, N., Tabi, Z. and Man, S. T. 2013. Decreased HPV-specific T cell responses and accumulation of immunosuppressive influences in oropharyngeal cancer patients following radical therapy. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 62(12), pp. 1821-1830. (10.1007/s00262-013-1488-5)
2012
- Al-Taei, S. et al. 2012. Overexpression and potential targeting of the oncofoetal antigen 5T4 in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lung Cancer 77(2), pp. 312-318. (10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.03.008)
2011
- Clayton, A., Al-Taei, S., Webber, J. P., Mason, M. D. and Tabi, Z. 2011. Cancer exosomes express CD39 and CD73, which suppress T cells through adenosine production. The Journal of Immunology 187(2), pp. 676-683. (10.4049/jimmunol.1003884)
2010
- Webber, J. P., Steadman, R., Mason, M. D., Tabi, Z. and Clayton, A. 2010. Cancer exosomes trigger fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation. Cancer Research 70(23), pp. 9621-9630. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-1722)
- Tabi, Z., Spary, L. K., Coleman, S. L., Clayton, A., Mason, M. D. and Staffurth, J. N. 2010. Resistance of CD45RA- T cells to apoptosis and functional impairment, and activation of tumor-antigen specific T cells during radiation therapy of prostate cancer. The Journal of Immunology 185(2), pp. 1330-1339. (10.4049/jimmunol.1000488)
2009
- Mitchell, P. J., Welton, J. L., Staffurth, J. N., Court, J., Mason, M. D., Tabi, Z. and Clayton, A. 2009. Can urinary exosomes act as treatment response markers in prostate cancer?. Journal Of Translational Medicine 7(4), pp. n/a. (10.1186/1479-5876-7-4)
- Navabi, H. et al. 2009. A clinical grade poly I:C-analogue (Ampligen®) promotes optimal DC maturation and Th1-type T cell responses of healthy donors and cancer patients in vitro. Vaccine 27(1), pp. 107-115. (10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.10.024)
- Renneson, J. et al. 2009. IL-12 and type I IFN response of neonatal myeloid DC to human CMV infection. European Journal of Immunology 39(10), pp. 2789-2799. (10.1002/eji.200939414)
- Tabi, Z. 2009. Cancer vaccines. In: Lu, Y. and Mahato, R. I. eds. Pharmaceutical Perspectives of Cancer Therapeutics. London: Springer, pp. 365-368.
2008
- Clayton, A., Mitchell, J. P., Court, J., Linnane, S., Mason, M. D. and Tabi, Z. 2008. Human tumor-derived exosomes down-modulate NKG2D expression. Journal of Immunology 180(11), pp. 7249-7258.
- Coleman, S. L., Gibbs, A., Butchart, E., Mason, M. D., Jasani, B. and Tabi, Z. 2008. SV40 large T antigen-specific human T cell memory responses. Journal of Medical Virology 80(8), pp. 1497-1504. (10.1002/jmv.21216)
- Tabi, Z. and Man, S. 2008. Cancer vaccines and immune monitoring (an overview). In: Hayat, M. A. ed. General methods and overviews, lung carcinoma and prostate carcinoma:. Methods of cancer diagnosis, therapy and prognosis Vol. 2. Springer, pp. 129-160., (10.1007/978-1-4020-8442-3)
- Mitchell, J. P., Court, J., Mason, M. D., Tabi, Z. and Clayton, A. 2008. Increased exosome production from tumour cell cultures using the Integra CELLine Culture System. Journal of Immunological Methods 335(1-2), pp. 98-105. (10.1016/j.jim.2008.03.001)
2007
- Clayton, A., Mason, M. D., Mitchell, J. P. and Tabi, Z. 2007. Human tumour-derived exosomes selectively impair lymphocyte responses to Interleukin-2. Cancer Research 67, pp. 7458-7466. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-3456)
2005
- Clayton, A., Turkes, A., Mason, M. D. and Tabi, Z. 2005. Induction of heat shock proteins in B-cell exosomes. Journal of Cell Science 118(16), pp. 3631-3638. (10.1242/jcs.02494)
- Coleman, S. L., Clayton, A., Mason, M. D., Jasani, B., Adams, M. and Tabi, Z. 2005. Recovery of CD8+ T-cell function during systemic chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer. Cancer Research 65(15), pp. 7000-7006. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-3792)
- Coleman, S. L., Clayton, A., Mason, M. D., Jasani, B., Adams, M. and Tabi, Z. 2005. Recovery of CD8+ T-cell function during systemic chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer. Cancer Research 65(15), pp. 7000-6. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-3792)
- Adams, M. et al. 2005. The rationale for combined chemo/immunotherapy using a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist and tumour-derived exosomes in advanced ovarian cancer. Vaccine 23(17-18), pp. 2374-2378. (10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.01.014)
- Navabi, H. et al. 2005. Preparation of human ovarian cancer ascites-derived exosomes for a clinical trial. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases 35(2), pp. 149-152. (10.1016/j.bcmd.2005.06.008)
- Jasani, B. et al. 2005. Assessment of immunological competence and SV40 specific recall immunity in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Vaccine 23(17-18), pp. 2339-2402. (10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.01.019)
- Clayton, A. and Tabi, Z. 2005. Exosomes and the MICA-NKG2D system in cancer. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases 34(3), pp. 206-213. (10.1016/j.bcmd.2005.03.003)
2004
- Moutaftsi, M., Brennan, P., Spector, S. A. and Tabi, Z. 2004. Impaired lymphoid chemokine-mediated migration due to a block on the chemokine receptor switch in human cytomegalovirus-infected dendritic cells. Journal of Virology 78(6), pp. 3046-3054. (10.1128/JVI.78.6.3046-3054.2004)
2002
- Moutaftsi, M., Mehl, A. M., Borysiewicz, L. K. and Tabi, Z. 2002. Human cytomegalovirus inhibits maturation and impairs function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Blood 99(8), pp. 2913-2921. (10.1182/blood.V99.8.2913)
2001
- Tabi, Z., Moutaftsi, M. and Borysiewicz, L. K. 2001. Human cytomegalovirus pp65- and immediate early 1 antigen-specific HLA class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell responses induced by cross-presentation of viral antigens. The Journal of Immunology 166(9), pp. 5695-5703.
Teaching
Current/Recent Research Students
Main research projects
- My group is studying three-dimensional models (spheroids) of mesothelioma, prostate and lung cancer in order to capture the interactions between tumour, tumour-stroma, tumour stem-cells and immune cells. We have discovered that tumour stroma itself is highly capable of skewing myeloid cell differentiation towards an immunosuppressive phenotype, including the upregulation of PD-L1, that blocks T cell activation, on dendritic cells. (Spary et al. OncoImmunology, 2015) This is important in understanding what cell types the immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are having a breakthrough in cancer treatment, affect.
- Ongoing work, using the NanoString technology (http://www.nanostring.com) is aimed at finding predictive immunological markers in prostate cancer patients who relapse following prostatectomy. The results of this study will guide patient-selection for early follow-up therapies in order to prevent relapse.
- The results of some of our past work lead to setting up a cancer vaccine clinical trial in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients (SKOPOS trial; www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Trial identifier: NCT01569919). We have established a sensitive immunomonitoring assay, which proved that T cell responses can be successfully generated against a tumour antigen in these patients. The findings warrant a further trial, combining the cancer vaccine (TroVax®) with novel treatments in order to find synergistic effects.