A New Way to Boost the Immune System to Prevent Lung Cancer
Developing a novel agonist of CD137 for cancer immunoprevention
This research explores a new immune-boosting treatment to help prevent lung cancer in people at high risk, especially those exposed to environmental factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140488 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on finding new ways to prevent cancer by strengthening the body's own immune defenses. Researchers are working with a new type of immune-boosting molecule, called SA-4-1BBL, that helps activate specific immune cells (CD8+ T cells) crucial for fighting cancer. The goal is to develop a prevention method that doesn't rely on knowing specific cancer targets, making it potentially useful for a wider range of cancers. This approach builds on successful immunotherapies that have already shown promise in treating various tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is focused on understanding how to prevent lung cancer in people who are at high risk due to environmental exposures.
Not a fit: Patients already diagnosed with advanced cancer may not directly benefit from this prevention-focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new type of immunotherapy that helps prevent lung cancer and potentially other cancers in high-risk individuals before they even develop.
How similar studies have performed: Immunotherapies targeting similar pathways have shown significant success in treating existing cancers, but this specific approach for prevention is novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shirwan, Haval — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Shirwan, Haval
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 below.