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Associate Professor

Colm Keane

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 37912

Overview

Background

Dr Keane is a haematologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital and runs the Lymphoma Research Lab at the UQDI in Brisbane. His main research interest is focused on the interface between the tumour microenvironment and the malignant lymphoma cell, with a goal to build an understanding of lymphoma from an immunological and biomarkers perspective. To bridge developments between the clinic and bench-top, the laboratory has a strong emphasis on patient material, which it obtains from international and national clinical collaborators, much being from investigator-led clinical trials.

Lymphomas studied include more common lymphomas such as Hodgkin Lymphoma, Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma and Follicular Lymphoma but his lab has a particular focus on rare lymphomas such as primary central nervous system lymphoma and lymphomas that develop in patients who are immunocompromised.

Dr. Keane has been instrumental in translating work from his lab into multiple immune based clinical trials currently being run across Australia, many in rare and hard to treat lymphomas, where patients have limited treatments available.

The goals of the lab are to directly improve outcomes for all lymphoma patients by performing innovative translational science that not only generates new knowledge and brings new treatments to Australian patients but helps to train the next generation of lymphoma researchers in Australia.

Availability

Associate Professor Colm Keane is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Business Administration, Griffith University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Tumour Immunology

  • DLBCL

  • Primary CNS Lymphoma

  • Hodgkin Lymphoma

  • Viral Associated Lymphomas

Works

Search Professor Colm Keane’s works on UQ eSpace

143 works between 2004 and 2025

1 - 20 of 143 works

2025

Journal Article

Distinct immune checkpoint landscapes in PCNSL and SCNSL revealed by single-nucleus profiling

Hawula, Zachary, Tuczko, Nella, Burgess, Melinda, Bradbury, Lucy, Chowdhury, Rakin, Swain, Fiona, Hawkes, Eliza, Wight, Joel and Keane, Colm (2025). Distinct immune checkpoint landscapes in PCNSL and SCNSL revealed by single-nucleus profiling. Blood, 146 (Supplement 1), 149-149. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-149

Distinct immune checkpoint landscapes in PCNSL and SCNSL revealed by single-nucleus profiling

2025

Journal Article

Trial in progress: Treatment of CNS lymphoma with zanubrutinib and tislelizumab: A phase ib/II investigator-initiated study

Salvaris, Ross, Keane, Colm, Trotman, Judith, Sutherland, Antony, Waltham, Mark, Simpson, David, Gregory, Gareth P. and Opat, Stephen (2025). Trial in progress: Treatment of CNS lymphoma with zanubrutinib and tislelizumab: A phase ib/II investigator-initiated study. Blood, 146 (Supplement 1), 1926-1926. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-1926

Trial in progress: Treatment of CNS lymphoma with zanubrutinib and tislelizumab: A phase ib/II investigator-initiated study

2025

Journal Article

Pembrolizumab (Pembro) plus R-CHOP is efficacious as first-line therapy for primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) with high rates of ctdna negativity – interim efficacy analysis of the ALLG-Pacific (NHL35) trial

Lewis, Katharine, Blombery, Piers, Sungala, Nagendra Prasad, Giri, Pratyush, Marconi, Tamara, Cochrane, Tara, Francis, Roslyn, Lee, Sze-Ting, Ma, Chun Kei Kris, Vanguru, Vinay, Manos, Kate, Keane, Colm, Hunter, Sally, Burgess, Melinda, Kannan, Sushmitha, Carlson, Julia, Walia, Mannu, Butcher, Belinda and Cheah, Chan (2025). Pembrolizumab (Pembro) plus R-CHOP is efficacious as first-line therapy for primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) with high rates of ctdna negativity – interim efficacy analysis of the ALLG-Pacific (NHL35) trial. Blood, 146 (Supplement 1), 1016-1016. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-1016

Pembrolizumab (Pembro) plus R-CHOP is efficacious as first-line therapy for primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) with high rates of ctdna negativity – interim efficacy analysis of the ALLG-Pacific (NHL35) trial

2025

Conference Publication

Divergent immune programs in EBV⁺ PCNSL: a multiomic study of AR-PCNSL and cns-PTLD

Burgess, Melinda, Hawula, Zachary, Kempe, Sarah, Murigneux, Valentine, Swain, Fiona, Chowdhury, Rakin, Tuczko, Nella, Bradbury, Lucy, Antczak, Magdalena, Mehdi, Ahmed, Hawkes, Eliza, Wight, Joel, Gould, Clare, Gandhi, Maher, Jiang, Sizun, Maguire, Alanna and Keane, Colm (2025). Divergent immune programs in EBV⁺ PCNSL: a multiomic study of AR-PCNSL and cns-PTLD. 67th ASH Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL USA, 6-9 December 2025. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-457

Divergent immune programs in EBV⁺ PCNSL: a multiomic study of AR-PCNSL and cns-PTLD

2025

Conference Publication

Multiomic dissection of immune-privileged DLBCL reveals divergent immune subtypes in testicular and primary central nervous system lymphoma

Burgess, Melinda, Hawula, Zachary, Tuczko, Nella, Kempe, Sarah, Murigneux, Valentine, Swain, Fiona, Chowdhury, Rakin, Bradbury, Lucy, Antczak, Magdalena, Mehdi, Ahmed, Hawkes, Eliza, Wight, Joel, Henden, Andrea, Sheehy, Joshua, Gandhi, Maher, Jiang, Sizun and Keane, Colm (2025). Multiomic dissection of immune-privileged DLBCL reveals divergent immune subtypes in testicular and primary central nervous system lymphoma. 67th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL, United States, 6-9 December 2025. Washington, DC, United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-147

Multiomic dissection of immune-privileged DLBCL reveals divergent immune subtypes in testicular and primary central nervous system lymphoma

2025

Journal Article

Expression of the cancer testis antigen PRAME is associated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitor and rituximab priming in treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Manos, Kate, Burgess, Melinda, Chong, Geoffrey, Lee, Sze-Ting, Smith, Charmaine, Renwick, William, Kempe, Sarah, Murigneux, Valentine, Chowdhury, Rakin, Blombery, Piers, Nelson, Niles, Fancourt, Tineke, Hawking, Joanne, Lin, Wendi, Barraclough, Allison, Wight, Joel, Keane, Colm and Hawkes, Eliza (2025). Expression of the cancer testis antigen PRAME is associated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitor and rituximab priming in treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Blood, 146 (Supplement 1), 3306-3306. doi: 10.1182/blood-2025-3306

Expression of the cancer testis antigen PRAME is associated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitor and rituximab priming in treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

2025

Journal Article

Characterizing the mechanistic role of TNF signaling via TNFR1 and TNFR2 on NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity 2859

Alim, Louisa Frances, Lam, Pui Yeng, Keane, Colm and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2025). Characterizing the mechanistic role of TNF signaling via TNFR1 and TNFR2 on NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity 2859. The Journal of Immunology, 214 (Supplement_1) vkaf283.730. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf283.730

Characterizing the mechanistic role of TNF signaling via TNFR1 and TNFR2 on NK cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity 2859

2025

Journal Article

T-cell dysregulation informs radiotherapy-immunotherapy response in B-cell lymphoma: results from a Phase I trial

Hawkes, Eliza A., Palmer, Jodie, Khor, Richard, Lee, Sze Ting, Burgess, Melinda, Law, Soi C., Gandhi, Maher K., Chong, Geoffrey, Shortt, Jake, Chowdhury, Rakin, Swain, Fiona, Churilov, Leonid, MacManus, Michael M., Smith, Charmaine, Scott, Fiona Elizabeth, Martynchyk, Arina, Barraclough, Allison, Manos, Kate, Scott, Andrew M. and Keane, Colm (2025). T-cell dysregulation informs radiotherapy-immunotherapy response in B-cell lymphoma: results from a Phase I trial. Blood Advances, 9 (20), 5263-5273. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016505

T-cell dysregulation informs radiotherapy-immunotherapy response in B-cell lymphoma: results from a Phase I trial

2025

Journal Article

T cell immune profile changes predict durable response to nivolumab-rituximab in treatment naïve FL

Koldej, Rachel M, Barraclough, Allison, Morgan, Huw, Lee, Sze Ting, Holzwart, Nicholas, Koshy, Minu, Smith, Charmaine, Chong, Geoff, Gilbertson, Michael, Keane, Colm, Lee, Denise, Churilov, Leonid, Ritchie, David S and Hawkes, Eliza A (2025). T cell immune profile changes predict durable response to nivolumab-rituximab in treatment naïve FL. Blood Neoplasia, 2 (4) 100168, 100168. doi: 10.1016/j.bneo.2025.100168

T cell immune profile changes predict durable response to nivolumab-rituximab in treatment naïve FL

2025

Journal Article

Meeting trial eligibility in follicular lymphoma patients is associated with overall survival but not progression-free survival

Wong, Kimberly S Q, Martynchyk, Arina, Krisnadi, Zoe, Swain, Fiona, Zargari, Ahmad, Cassidy, Luke, Mills, Georgia, Lim, Kenneth, Gervasi, Jeremy, Smallbone, Portia, Wang, Jenny, Slifirski, Olivia, Loh, Zoe, Cheah, Chan, Keane, Colm, Gregory, Gareth, Lasica, Masa, Chong, Geoffrey, Barraclough, Allison, Cochrane, Tara, Lee, Denise and Hawkes, Eliza (2025). Meeting trial eligibility in follicular lymphoma patients is associated with overall survival but not progression-free survival. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 117 (11) djaf174, 2240-2248. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaf174

Meeting trial eligibility in follicular lymphoma patients is associated with overall survival but not progression-free survival

2025

Conference Publication

Australian patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma frequently fail eligibility criteria for landmark and registration clinical trials

Goodall, E., Palmer, J., Martynchyk, A., Waters, N., Swain, F., Marconi, T., Giang, T. B., Brennan, J., Gregory, G., Cheah, C., Keane, C. and Hawkes, E. (2025). Australian patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma frequently fail eligibility criteria for landmark and registration clinical trials. 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Lugano, Switzerland, 17 ‐ 21 June 2025. Wiley. doi: 10.1002/hon.70096_626

Australian patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma frequently fail eligibility criteria for landmark and registration clinical trials

2025

Conference Publication

Treatment of newly‐diagnosed follicular lymphoma with Rituximab, golcadomide +/‐ nivolumab‐ interim analysis of the phase II TOP‐FLOR study

Martynchyck, A., Chong, G., Barraclough, A., Ratnasingam, S., Marconi, T., Palmer, J. B., Keane, C., Lee, S. T. B., Scott, A. M., Romano, A., Churilov, L., Lee, D. and Hawkes, E. A. (2025). Treatment of newly‐diagnosed follicular lymphoma with Rituximab, golcadomide +/‐ nivolumab‐ interim analysis of the phase II TOP‐FLOR study. 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Lugano, Switzerland, 17 ‐ 21 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/hon.70094_230

Treatment of newly‐diagnosed follicular lymphoma with Rituximab, golcadomide +/‐ nivolumab‐ interim analysis of the phase II TOP‐FLOR study

2025

Journal Article

Refinement of primary central nervous system lymphoma prognostication and response assessment using 3-dimensional MRI

O’Shaughnessy, Jack, Martynchyk, Arina, Lee, Sze Ting, Chong, Geoff, Agrawal, Shivam, Tatarczuch, Maciej, Azryn, Nariza Alysa, Gregory, Gareth P., Churilov, Leonid, Wang, Michael, Keane, Colm and Hawkes, Eliza A. (2025). Refinement of primary central nervous system lymphoma prognostication and response assessment using 3-dimensional MRI. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 7 (1) vdaf090, vdaf090. doi: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf090

Refinement of primary central nervous system lymphoma prognostication and response assessment using 3-dimensional MRI

2025

Journal Article

Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment naive follicular lymphoma: the phase II '1st FLOR' study

Barraclough, Allison, Lee, Sze Ting, Burgess, Melinda, Churilov, Leonid, Chong, Geoffrey, Lee, Denise, Gilbertson, Michael, Fancourt, Tineke, Manos, Kate, Ritchie, David, Koldej, Rachel M, Scott, Andrew, Keane, Colm and Hawkes, Eliza A (2025). Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment naive follicular lymphoma: the phase II '1st FLOR' study. Blood Advances, 9 (6), 1432-1441. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024015487

Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment naive follicular lymphoma: the phase II '1st FLOR' study

2024

Journal Article

Adjuvant rituximab and elevated intratumoural CD8 expression are associated with sustained disease control after radiotherapy in a randomised trial of systemic therapy in early-stage follicular lymphoma

MacManus, Michael P., Seymour, John F., Tsang, Hennes, Fisher, Richard, Keane, Colm, Sabdia, Muhammed B., Law, Soi C., Gunawardana, Jay, Nath, Karthik, Kazakoff, Stephen H., Marques-Piubelli, Mario L., Duenas, Daniela E., Green, Michael R., Roos, Daniel, O'Brien, Peter, McCann, Andrew, Tsang, Richard, Davis, Sidney, Christie, David, Cheah, Chan, Amanuel, Benhur, Cochrane, Tara, Butler, Jason, Johnston, Anna, Shanavas, Mohamed, Li, Li, Vajdic, Claire, Kridel, Robert, Shelton, Victoria ... Tobin, Joshua W. D. (2024). Adjuvant rituximab and elevated intratumoural CD8 expression are associated with sustained disease control after radiotherapy in a randomised trial of systemic therapy in early-stage follicular lymphoma. eBioMedicine, 110 105468, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105468

Adjuvant rituximab and elevated intratumoural CD8 expression are associated with sustained disease control after radiotherapy in a randomised trial of systemic therapy in early-stage follicular lymphoma

2024

Journal Article

Magrolimab plus rituximab with/without chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Maakaron, Joeseph, Asch, Adam S., Popplewell, Leslie, Collins, Graham P., Flinn, Ian W., Ghosh, Nilanjan, Keane, Colm, Ku, Matthew, Mehta, Amitkumar, Roschewski, Mark, Hacohen-Kleiman, Gal, Huo, Yanan, Zhang, Yi, Renard, Camille, Smith, Sonali M. and Advani, Ranjana H. (2024). Magrolimab plus rituximab with/without chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Blood Advances, 8 (22), 5864-5874. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013338

Magrolimab plus rituximab with/without chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

2024

Journal Article

Dichotomous outcomes of TNFR1 and TNFR2 signaling in NK cell-mediated immune responses during inflammation

McCulloch, Timothy R., Rossi, Gustavo R., Alim, Louisa, Lam, Pui Yeng, Wong, Joshua K. M., Coleborn, Elaina, Kumari, Snehlata, Keane, Colm, Kueh, Andrew J., Herold, Marco J., Wilhelm, Christoph, Knolle, Percy A., Kane, Lawrence, Wells, Timothy J. and Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Fernando (2024). Dichotomous outcomes of TNFR1 and TNFR2 signaling in NK cell-mediated immune responses during inflammation. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 9871, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54232-y

Dichotomous outcomes of TNFR1 and TNFR2 signaling in NK cell-mediated immune responses during inflammation

2024

Conference Publication

Biological Features of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Rituximab Priming in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Chowdhury, Rakin, Manos, Kate, Burgess, Melinda, Chong, Geoffrey, Lee, Sze-Ting, Hawula, Zachary, Tuczko, Nella, Smith, Charmaine, Fancourt, Tineke, Churilov, Leonid, Scott, Andrew, Barraclough, Allison, Wight, Joel, McKendrick, Joe, Lin, Wendi, Swain, Fiona, Hawkes, Eliza A. and Keane, Colm (2024). Biological Features of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Rituximab Priming in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. 66th ASH Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 December 2024. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2024-201230

Biological Features of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Rituximab Priming in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

2024

Conference Publication

Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group NHL32 Block PCNSL: An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Following Chemoimmunotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma - Trial in Progress

Tatarczuch, Maciej, Keane, Colm, Brown, Christina, Giri, Pratyush, Cull, Gavin, Lasica, Masa, Shuttleworth, Charles, Wight, Joel, Tabesh, Marjan, Butcher, Belinda E., Lee, Sze Ting, Hawkes, Eliza A. and Gregory, Gareth P. (2024). Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group NHL32 Block PCNSL: An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Following Chemoimmunotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma - Trial in Progress. 66th ASH Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 December 2024. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2024-200410

Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group NHL32 Block PCNSL: An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Following Chemoimmunotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma - Trial in Progress

2024

Conference Publication

Interim Safety Analysis of ALLG-Pacific (NHL35): An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab and Chemo-Immunotherapy As First-Line Therapy for Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma

Lewis, Katharine L., Giri, Pratyush, Marconi, Tamara, Blombery, Piers, Keane, Colm, Sungala, Nagendra Prasad, Cochrane, Tara, Ma, Chun Kei Kris, Vanguru, Vinay, Manos, Kate, Francis, Roslyn, Walia, Mannu, Carlson, Julia, Butcher, Belinda E. and Cheah, Chan Y. (2024). Interim Safety Analysis of ALLG-Pacific (NHL35): An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab and Chemo-Immunotherapy As First-Line Therapy for Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma. 66th ASH Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 7-10 December 2024. Washington, DC United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2024-204317

Interim Safety Analysis of ALLG-Pacific (NHL35): An Open Label Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab and Chemo-Immunotherapy As First-Line Therapy for Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    BrainCAR19 Study- Treatment of relapsed Primary Brain Lymphoma with CD19 directed CAR-T cells
    NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    An early phase, open label, multi-centre trial of front-line TheRapy for EBv-associated Lymphomas -- 2: TREBL-2 (Stream 6)
    NHMRC MRFF - Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    ALLGNHL32 Study - An ALLG Phase II study of pembrolizumab checkpoint blockade following chemoimmunotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma
    Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Investigation of Immune evasion in relapsed lymphoma (RADD Trial) (Victorian Cancer Agency Translational Research Project administered by La Trobe University)
    Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Immuno-genetic biomarkers of response in a prospective study of immune checkpoint therapy in primary CNS lymphoma
    NHMRC MRFF Investigator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2026
    An Open Label, Multicentre, Phase One Study Incorporating Early Application of CAR T cells for Primary Refractory Aggressive Lymphoma
    NHMRC MRFF - Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2025
    Employing rational novel agent combination therapy to improve transplant cure rates for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma (MRFF RCRDUN administered by La Trobe University)
    La Trobe University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Novel immune based approaches to improve survival for patients with Primary Central Nervous Lymphoma
    Queensland Advancing Clinical Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Investigation of the key immuno-genetic drivers of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma that occurs in patients with HIV infection
    Cancer Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2025
    An Open label, Multicentre, Phase I study of Ibrutinib, Rituximab and EBV specific T-cells in Patients with EBV-positive Primary or Secondary CNS Lymphoma unsuitable for standard therapies
    NHMRC MRFF - Lifting Clinical Trials Registries Capacity
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Investigation of unique immune microenvironment of Primary CNS Lymphoma
    NHMRC Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    The prognostic utility of the tumour microenvironment in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
    Celgene Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Does lymphoma avoid immune destruction by inducing T-cell tolerance?
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    A correlative laboratory study of primary CNS lymphoma
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Net tumoral immunity and its impact on outcome in lymphoma
    The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia Limited
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Colm Keane is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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