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
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Tumour Immunology
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DLBCL
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Primary CNS Lymphoma
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Hodgkin Lymphoma
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Viral Associated Lymphomas
Works
Search Professor Colm Keane’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Colm Keane is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of immune responses to novel and standard therapies in DLBCL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joshua Tobin, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of responses to CAR-T cell therapy in PCNSL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zachary Hawula
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Doctor Philosophy
Immuno-genetic biomarkers of response in a prospective study of immune checkpoint therapy in primary CNS lymphoma
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe, Dr Zachary Hawula
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the mechanisms of immune evasion in relapsed/refractory DLBCL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zachary Hawula
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Master Philosophy
Novel Radionuclide Tracers for Imaging in Amyloidosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Mollee
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Doctor Philosophy
Reversing tumour necrosis factor-mediated immunosuppression to boost immunity against experimental CD19+ blood cancers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Allie Lam, Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of genetics upon the tumour microenvironment in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Soi Law, Professor Maher Gandhi, Dr Joshua Tobin
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
A Comprehensive Study of Intratumoural T-cells in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Soi Law, Professor Maher Gandhi
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical and Prognostic Tools to Improve Frontline Management Strategies in Follicular Lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maher Gandhi
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of deficient antigen presentation on the tumour microenvironment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maher Gandhi
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A LABORATORY STUDY OF PRIMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM LYMPHOMA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Maher Gandhi
Media
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