Antibodies that target tiny bits of tumor proteins inside cancer cells
Developing therapeutic TCR mimic monoclonal antibodies for cancer
This project is creating a new kind of antibody treatment that can find and help kill cancer cells by recognizing tiny pieces of proteins shown on the tumor cell surface, intended for cancers with those targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166342 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing T cell receptor mimic antibodies that spot short protein fragments from inside cancer cells when those fragments are displayed on the cell surface. The team will engineer these antibodies to kill tumor cells directly, carry toxic payloads, or recruit immune cells to enhance attack on the cancer. Initial work will be done in the lab and in animal models to test binding, safety, and effectiveness. If those results are promising, the antibodies could be adapted for early human testing focused on cancers with the validated targets described by the team.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People whose tumors show the specific peptide-MHC targets being developed — for example HPV-related tumors in individuals with HLA-A*02:01 — would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers lack the targeted peptides or who do not have the matching HLA type are unlikely to benefit from these antibodies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer more precise cancer treatments that attack tumor cells while sparing normal tissues.
How similar studies have performed: Related TCR-mimic antibody approaches have shown promising results in laboratory and animal studies but have had limited testing in people to date.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dao, Tao — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Dao, Tao
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.