Faculty

Nicola J Mason, B.Vet.Med DACVIM PhD

faculty photo
Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information
Room 315, Hill Pavilion
380, South University Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160
Office: 215 898 3996
Education:
BVetMed (Veterinary Medicine )
University of London , 1992.
PhD (Immunology)
University of Pennsylvania , 2004.
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Description of Research Expertise

Our translational research program focuses on a comparative approach, utilizing immunologically intact, canine patients with spontaneous cancer.

This comparative approach provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of next generation immunotherapies in a parallel canine patient population that presents the same challenges to effective immunotherapy as seen in human patients.

The aim of this approach is to accelerate the translation of the most promising pre-clinical discoveries into the human clinic. Our lab is actively involved in developing the canine “model” for evaluating CART cell therapies.

We have successfully translated several promising strategies to generate anti-tumor immunity from the lab and pre-clinical murine models into client owned dogs suffering from lymphoma, osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma.

Our lab evaluates the immunological consequences of immune–based therapies in client owned dogs using flow cytometric phenotyping and functional assays including cytokine production, cytotoxicity assays and ELISpot assays to investigate canine T cell responses.

Dr. Mason leads a multi-institutional clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of a recombinant Listeria to prevent metastatic disease in dogs with osteosarcoma. She also leads the coordinating center for Canine Cancer Immunotherapy Trials (U24) as part of the Cancer Moonshot program. The lab has extensive experience in methodology to robustly expand and genetically modify canine T cells ex vivo and is the first to perform clinical trials using CART cells in client owned dogs with treatment naïve or relapsed B-NHL. This single site trial is performed at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Selected Publications

Migliorini Denis, Mason Nicola J, Posey Avery D: Keeping the Engine Running: The Relevance and Predictive Value of Preclinical Models for CAR-T Cell Development. ILAR journal May 2019.

Jackson Martina, Serada Nicole, Sheehan Maura, Srinivasan Satish, Mason Nicola, Guha Manti, Avadhani Narayan: Mitochondrial genome and functional defects in osteosarcoma are associated with their aggressive phenotype. PLoS One 13(12): e0209489, 2018.

Yin Yibo, Boesteanu Alina C, Binder Zev A, Xu Chong, Reid Reiss A, Rodriguez Jesse L, Cook Danielle R, Thokala Radhika, Blouch Kristin, McGettigan-Croce Bevin, Zhang Logan, Konradt Christoph, Cogdill Alexandria P, Panjwani M Kazim, Jiang Shuguang, Migliorini Denis, Dahmane Nadia, Posey Avery D, June Carl H, Mason Nicola J, Lin Zhiguo, O'Rourke Donald M, Johnson Laura A: Checkpoint Blockade Reverses Anergy in IL-13Rα2 Humanized scFv-Based CAR T Cells to Treat Murine and Canine Gliomas. Molecular Therapy Oncolytics 11: 20-38, Dec 2018.

Garden O A, Volk S W, Mason N J, Perry J A: Companion animals in comparative oncology: One Medicine in action. Veterinary Journal (London, England : 1997) 240: 6-13, Oct 2018.

Wang Guannan, Wu Ming, Maloneyhuss Martha A, Wojcik John, Durham Amy C, Mason Nicola J, Roth David B: Actionable mutations in canine hemangiosarcoma. PloS One 12(11): e0188667, 2017.

Panjwani M Kazim, Smith Jenessa B, Schutsky Keith, Gnanandarajah Josephine, O'Connor Colleen M, Powell Daniel J, Mason Nicola J: Feasibility and Safety of RNA-transfected CD20-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Dogs with Spontaneous B Cell Lymphoma. Molecular Therapy : The Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy 24(9): 1602-14, Sep 2016.

LeBlanc Amy K, Breen Matthew, Choyke Peter, Dewhirst Mark, Fan Timothy M, Gustafson Daniel L, Helman Lee J, Kastan Michael B, Knapp Deborah W, Levin Wendy J, London Cheryl, Mason Nicola, Mazcko Christina, Olson Patricia N, Page Rodney, Teicher Beverly A, Thamm Douglas H, Trent Jeffrey M, Vail David M, Khanna Chand: Perspectives from man's best friend: National Academy of Medicine's Workshop on Comparative Oncology. Science Translational Medicine 8(324): 324ps5, Feb 2016.

Stroud Cheryl, Dmitriev Igor, Kashentseva Elena, Bryan Jeffrey N, Curiel David T, Rindt Hans, Reinero Carol, Henry Carolyn J, Bergman Philip J, Mason Nicola J, Gnanandarajah Josephine S, Engiles Julie B, Gray Falon, Laughlin Danielle, Gaurnier-Hausser Anita, Wallecha Anu, Huebner Margie, Paterson Yvonne, O'Connor Daniel, Treml Laura S, Stannard James P, Cook James L, Jacobs Marc, Wyckoff Gerald J, Likins Lee, Sabbagh Ubadah, Skaff Andrew, Guloy Amado S, Hays Harlen D, LeBlanc Amy K, Coates Joan R, Katz Martin L, Lyons Leslie A, Johnson Gayle C, Johnson Gary S, O'Brien Dennis P, Duan Dongsheng, Calvet James P, Gandolfi Barbara, Baron David A, Weiss Mark L, Webster Debra A, Karanu Francis N, Robb Edward J, Harman Robert J: A One Health overview, facilitating advances in comparative medicine and translational research. Clinical and Translational Medicine 5(Suppl 1): 26, Aug 2016.

Mason Nicola J, Gnanandarajah Josephine S, Engiles Julie B, Gray Falon, Laughlin Danielle, Gaurnier-Hausser Anita, Wallecha Anu, Huebner Margie, Paterson Yvonne: Immunotherapy with a HER2-Targeting Listeria Induces HER2-Specific Immunity and Demonstrates Potential Therapeutic Effects in a Phase I Trial in Canine Osteosarcoma. Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research 22(17): 4380-90, Sep 2016.

Ito Daisuke, Childress Michael, Mason Nicola, Winter Amber, O'Brien Timothy, Henson Michael, Borgatti Antonella, Lewellen Mitzi, Krick Erika, Stewart Jane, Lahrman Sarah, Rajwa Bartek, Scott Milcah C, Seelig Davis, Koopmeiners Joseph, Ruetz Stephan, Modiano Jaime: A double blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study to examine reduction of CD34 /CD117 /CD133 lymphoma progenitor cells and duration of remission induced by neoadjuvant valspodar in dogs with large B-cell lymphoma. F1000Research 4: 42, 2015.

Gaurnier-Hausser Anita, Mason Nicola J: Assessment of canonical NF-κB activity in canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.) 1280: 469-504, 2015.

Habineza Ndikuyeze Georges, Gaurnier-Hausser Anita, Patel Reema, Baldwin Albert S, May Michael J, Flood Patrick, Krick Erika, Propert Kathleen J, Mason Nicola J: A Phase I Clinical Trial of Systemically Delivered NEMO Binding Domain Peptide in Dogs with Spontaneous Activated B-Cell like Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. PloS One 9(5): e95404, 2014.

Callan Mary Beth, Werner Petra, Mason Nicola J, Meny Geralyn M, Raducha Michael G, Henthorn Paula S: Polymorphisms in canine platelet glycoproteins identify potential platelet antigens. Comparative Medicine 63(4): 348-54, Aug 2013.

Ito D, Modiano JF, Childress MO, Mason NJ, Leary JF, O'Brien TD, Henson MS, Borgatti A, Krick E, Stuebner KM, et al.: Targeting lymphoid progenitor cells in canine B cell lymphoma using neoadjuvant ABCB1 Transporter inhibition and doxorubicin chemotherapy. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 27(3): 683-684, 2013.

Ito Daisuke, Frantz Aric M, Williams Christina, Thomas Rachael, Burnett Robert C, Avery Anne C, Breen Matthew, Mason Nicola J, O'Brien Timothy D, Modiano Jaime F: CD40 ligand is necessary and sufficient to support primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells in culture: a tool for in vitro preclinical studies with primary B-cell malignancies. Leukemia & Lymphoma Feb 2012.

Huang Shih-Hung, Kozak Philip J, Kim Jessica, Habineza-Ndikuyeze Georges, Meade Charles, Gaurnier-Hausser Anita, Patel Reema, Robertson Erle, Mason Nicola J: Evidence of an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus in domestic dogs. Virology Mar 2012.

Braganza Andrea, Wallace Koranda, Pell Laura, Parrish Colin R, Siegel Don L, Mason Nicola J: Generation and validation of canine single chain variable fragment phage display libraries. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 139(1): 27-40, Jan 2011.

Sorenmo KU, Krick E, Coughlin CM, Overley B, Gregor TP, Vonderheide RH, Mason NJ.: CD40-activated B cell cancer vaccine improves second clinical remission and survival in privately owned dogs with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PLoS One 6(8): e24167, 2011.

Gaurnier-Hausser A, Patel R, Baldwin AS, May MJ, Mason N.: NEMO Binding Domain peptide inhibits constitutive NF-{kappa}B activity and reduces tumor burden in a canine model of relapsed, refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphom. Clin Cancer Res. Month 2011.

Ahern Benjamin J, Schaer Thomas P, Terkhorn Shawn P, Jackson Karen V, Mason Nicola J, Hankenson Kurt D: Evaluation of equine peripheral blood apheresis product, bone marrow, and adipose tissue as sources of mesenchymal stem cells and their differentation potential. American Journal of Veterinary Research 72(1): 127-33, Jan 2011.

Mason NJ, Coughlin CM, Overley B, Cohen JN, Mitchell EL, Colligon TA, Clifford CA, Zurbriggen A, Sorenmo KU, Vonderheide RH: RNA-loaded CD40-activated B cells stimulate antigen-specific T-cell responses in dogs with spontaneous lymphoma. Gene Therapy Page: 955-65, Jul 2008.

Callan Mary Beth, Appleman Elizabeth H, Shofer Frances S, Mason Nicola J, Brainard Benjamin M, Groman Reid P: Clinical and clinicopathologic effects of plateletpheresis on healthy donor dogs. Transfusion 48(10): 2214-21, Oct 2008.

Tato Cristina M, Mason Nicola, Artis David, Shapira Sagi, Caamano Jorge C, Bream Jay H, Liou Hsiou-Chi, Hunter Christopher A: Opposing roles of NF-kappaB family members in the regulation of NK cell proliferation and production of IFN-gamma. International Immunology 18(4): 505-13, Apr 2006.

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Last updated: 09/25/2023
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