Mary Ann Accavitti-Loper, Ph.D., and Ted Brostrom had never met until just recently. But Mr. Brostrom credits the type of work done by the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center scientist in helping to save his life.
After being diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in January 2005, Mr. Brostrom, a Huntsville resident, received a monoclonal antibody developed at the UAB Cancer Center as part of a clinical trial. The experimental treatment, which used laboratory-produced molecules to bind to tumor cells and interfere with cell function, beat the disease.
But before patients like Mr. Brostrom can receive a monoclonal antibody, Cancer Center scientists must spend years developing and testing it in the laboratory. Dr. Accavitti-Loper’s laboratory at UAB is one of several that specialize in the development of monoclonal antibodies. While these scientists do not directly treat patients, their behind-the-scenes efforts are instrumental, enabling the Cancer Center to offer the most advanced and effective care.
Growth of a Scientist
Dr. Accavitti-Loper was drawn to science early in life; she became interested in biology when she was diagnosed with appendicitis as a teenager. “I was struck by the fact that someone could look at my blood and determine that I had an infection,” she says. “Based on that experience and the encouragement of my high school biology teacher, I decided I would pursue a career in medical technology.”
After high school, Dr. Accavitti-Loper enrolled at the University of Detroit and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. One of her college professors, an immunologist, invited her to work in his laboratory and eventually convinced her to attend graduate school. She then received her Ph.D. from Wayne State University, focusing on immunology and microbiology. “My thesis advisor came into the lab one day all excited about a new technology that had just been published,” she says. “He described monoclonal antibodies to me and said he wanted me to learn how to make them. He said if I mastered this technology I would probably be involved with it for the rest of my career. When I look back on that day, I am amazed at how prophetic his comment turned out to be.”
Heading South
After graduate school, Dr. Accavitti-Loper visited UAB to interview for a post-doctoral position with world-renowned immunologist and Cancer Center Senior Scientist Max Cooper, M.D. After meeting with various members of Dr. Cooper’s group, she decided to do her post-doctoral work in the laboratory of another monoclonal antibody enthusiast, Cancer Center Senior Scientist John Kearney, Ph.D. Though Alabama presented a much different environment than her native Michigan, Dr. Accavitti-Loper was fascinated by Birmingham and UAB.
“The scientific community at UAB is very friendly and interactive. The level of camaraderie here is difficult to find in other places,” she says. “I thought I’d stay a couple of years and then leave, but UAB turned out to be an oasis of scientific excellence. I consider it the best-kept secret in the South.”
Dr. Accavitti-Loper joined the UAB faculty in 1982 becoming the director of UAB’s Hybridoma Core Facility. In more than 20 years, her dedication to monoclonal antibody technology has not changed. “I can’t imagine ever getting tired of making monoclonal antibodies,” she says. “Every project that we do is unique and presents a new challenge. It’s gratifying to get paid for doing something I love to do.”
A Visit from a Grateful Patient
Today, Dr. Accavitti-Loper directs the Epitope Recognition Core Facility, a laboratory that assists Cancer Center scientists and other UAB investigators in the development of new monoclonal antibodies. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 13 years, Bill, and their 10-year-old son, Will.
Though she prefers to work quietly behind the scenes, Dr. Accavitti-Loper is hopeful that some of the monoclonal antibodies made in her laboratory will aid in the study and treatment of cancer. “After reading Mr. Brostrom’s inspiring story in Crossroads, I contacted him and invited him to visit our lab, as it was clear that he had a special appreciation for monoclonal antibodies,” she says. “I thought he would enjoy visiting our laboratory to see how they were made. I was delighted when he sent me an e-mail accepting my invitation.”
After Mr. Brostrom received the news that he was cancer-free in late 2005, he designed a medallion to present to his cancer team as a token of his appreciation. Although Dr. Accavitti-Loper was not directly involved in developing the antibody given to Mr. Brostrom, he still chose to present her with one of the medallions. “I know Dr. Accavitti-Loper prefers not to accept credit for what she has done,” says Mr. Brostrom, “but I strongly believe that her work contributed to saving my life.”
