Antibodies that boost the immune system by targeting GITR and PD‑1 to fight cancer
In vivo testing of an agonistic anti-GITR mAb that induces cell surface clustering to augment signal transduction and a 2nd Gen bispecific anti-GITR/PD1 Ab derivative for improved anti-tumor activity
New antibody drugs aim to boost the immune system to help people with cancers that haven't had a complete or lasting response to PD‑1 immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11014971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops two antibody approaches to strengthen the immune attack on tumors from a patient point of view. One approach uses an agonist antibody that forces GITR receptors on immune cells to cluster and become more active, and the other is a second‑generation bispecific antibody that binds both GITR and PD‑1 to combine stimulation with checkpoint targeting. The team will test these molecules in laboratory and in vivo models to measure tumor control and immune effects while monitoring for unwanted immune depletion. If the lab and preclinical results look good, the work could support later clinical testing in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers that have not had a complete or lasting response to PD‑1/PD‑L1 immunotherapy would be the most likely to benefit in future clinical testing.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are unlikely to be affected by immune‑based treatments or who have active autoimmune disease may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce more effective immunotherapies that help patients whose cancers do not respond well to current PD‑1 drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior GITR‑targeting antibodies showed limited benefit in humans, so combining forced receptor clustering with PD‑1 targeting is a newer strategy with promising preclinical rationale but limited clinical proof so far.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marasco, Wayne a. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Marasco, Wayne a.
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.