A new treatment approach for colorectal cancer using specialized nanoparticles.
Official title: A Phospholipid-Derived Nanotherapeutic Platform for Improved Colorectal Cancer Immunochemotherapy
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11056724 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for colorectal cancer that combines special tiny particles with cancer-fighting drugs to help your immune system work better against the cancer, especially if other treatments haven't worked for you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $344,080 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272487-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056724 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are colorectal cancer patients, particularly those who have not responded to existing therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with colorectal cancer who have mismatch-repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high tumors may not benefit as they are already eligible for existing immunotherapy options.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel liposomal nanotherapeutic platform designed to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy for colorectal cancer. By conjugating anticancer agents to phospholipids, the researchers aim to improve the delivery and efficacy of chemotherapy while minimizing side effects. The approach seeks to convert tumors from an 'immune-cold' state to an 'immune-hot' state, thereby increasing the response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Patients with colorectal cancer who have not responded to traditional therapies may find this innovative treatment beneficial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve treatment outcomes for colorectal cancer patients who currently have limited options.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of nanotherapeutics in cancer treatment is a growing field, this specific approach is innovative and has not been widely tested in colorectal cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Jianqin — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Lu, Jianqin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
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A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
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Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
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Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.