Pictured from top to bottom: Dr. Marcus Butler, Medical Oncologist; Dr. David Kirsch, Clinician Scientist and Head of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Department of Radiation Oncology and the Radiation Medicine Program; and Dr. Raymond Kim, Medical Geneticist and Medical Director of Early Cancer Detection.
In 2021, Agnico Eagle announced a $10 million contribution to the Grand Challenges competition at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. This pledge brought the company’s total support to over $25 million, positioning it among the largest corporate philanthropic investments in Canadian history.
The Agnico Eagle Grand Challenges fund ambitious, transformative projects at The Princess Margaret that strive to enhance patient outcomes by advancing early cancer detection and developing innovative treatments that move beyond traditional chemotherapy.
This year, three winning projects were selected, two in the Beyond Chemotherapy category and one in Early Detection, which are advancing bold new approaches to cancer care:
- A powerful new form of CAR T cell therapy for blood cancers
- A novel use of an existing drug to prevent sarcoma recurrence
- A genetic database to identify and support individuals at high risk of cancer
Deploying JAK/STAT CAR T Cell Therapy for Blood Cancers
CAR T cell therapy is an advanced immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own T cells, genetically engineered to recognize and attack cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, CAR T cell therapy offers a living, targeted treatment that can provide long-term tumour control. Since its emergence in 2010 and FDA approval in 2017, CAR T cell therapy has shown success against certain blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with several variants now approved by Health Canada.
Most CAR T cell therapies target CD19, a protein on B cells. While highly effective for certain CD19+ cancers like acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, their effectiveness remains limited for other CD19+ blood cancers. To address this, Drs. Marcus Butler and Naoto Hirano developed a more potent CAR T cell, called the JAK/STAT CAR T, patented by University Health Network and licensed to a biotech company.
Building on this innovation, Dr. Butler’s team launched the first clinical trial using JAK/STAT CAR T cells for CD19+ B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and small lymphocytic leukemia. Co-led by Princess Margaret experts Dr. Christine Chen and Dr. John Kuruvilla, four patients have received their first dose level with promising results.
With funding from the Agnico Eagle Grand Challenges, the team is expanding the trial to assess safety in two additional cohorts, another step towards confirming efficacity and bringing this homegrown therapy closer to clinical application for patients at The Princess Margaret.
Spatial Immune Profiling for Precision Oncology in Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare cancers that develop in muscles, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves, often growing undetected deep in the body. Because they are uncommon, these tumours are difficult to diagnose and treat. Dr. David Kirsch is focused on improving care for these patients.
While surgery and radiotherapy achieve high local control for sarcomas in limbs, about 50% of Stage III patients develop metastatic disease – a condition where cancer spreads to other parts of the body. A trial, led by Dr. Kirsch, tested adding pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, to standard preoperative radiotherapy and surgery. Although adverse events were more frequent, the combination significantly improved disease-free survival.
The next challenge is predicting which patients will benefit, so Dr. Kirsch’s team is analyzing sarcomas from the trial using advanced spatial immune profiling techniques to measure multiple proteins on immune cells within a single tissue sample, enabling researchers to map the quantity and spatial location of immune cells in tumours.
By comparing immune profiles from cases that relapsed versus those that did not, the team aims to identify biomarkers predicting response to pembrolizumab and develop a sarcoma-specific antibody panel.
OurGenes Study
Up to 10% of the population carries genetic cancer risk factors. Detecting these mutations early allows for proactive monitoring and preventive care, reducing the likelihood of cancer and improving success of treatment if needed. Dr. Raymond Kim is advancing this goal by integrating genomic technologies, such as whole genome sequencing and circulating tumour DNA analysis, into routine care. A strong advocate for universal genetic testing, Dr. Kim envisions a future where all Ontarians have access to hereditary cancer screening.
To achieve this, Dr. Kim and his team are launching the OurGenes Study, a Princess Margaret/UHN partnership with Helix, a U.S.-based leader in genomic data integration. This large-scale initiative aims to recruit over 100,000 patients in five years. With support from Agnico Eagle, the program will include exome sequencing and generate medical-grade reports on three CDC Tier 1 conditions:
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome
- Lynch syndrome (linked to colorectal and endometrial cancers)
- Familial hypercholesterolemia (causing high cholesterol)
Initially focused on Princess Margaret patients, the study will expand across University Health Network as funding grows. Participants with negative results will be informed, while those with positive findings will receive genetic counseling and ongoing monitoring. Currently, 90% of patients with these risk factors are diagnosed only after symptoms appear, a gap this program aims to close.
Beyond improving outcomes, OurGenes will create a robust genomic data resource, positioning The Princess Margaret as a leader in genetics research and enabling strong academic and commercial partnerships.
Learn More About Our Past Grand Challenge Winners
Turning Hope into Reality
Agnico Eagle’s Funding Poised to Change World of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment & Therapy
Revolutionizing Cancer Research and Care at Princess Margaret: The Enduring Impact of Agnico Eagle’s Historical Donation
From Donation to Discovery: A Bold New Era in Cancer Research