ATRX gene changes and immune-targeted approaches for malignant brain tumors
ATRX mutations, innate immune activation and therapeutic vulnerability in malignant gliomas
Seeing if ATRX gene changes in malignant gliomas make tumors trigger immune responses and respond to immune-boosting treatments for people with these brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144365 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a glioma, researchers will focus on tumors that carry ATRX gene changes to understand how those changes affect innate immune signaling. They will study tumor samples and laboratory models to measure inflammatory and type I interferon responses and test double-stranded RNA immune agonists. The team will compare tumors with and without IDH mutations to learn how those differences change immune visibility. This lab and preclinical work aims to reveal vulnerabilities that could guide future patient therapies or trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with malignant gliomas—especially astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma subtypes—whose tumors carry ATRX mutations would be the most directly relevant candidates for related trials or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have ATRX mutations or whose disease is driven by other molecular changes (for example, non-ATRX gliomas) may be less likely to benefit from therapies developed from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new immune-based treatments that make ATRX-mutant gliomas more vulnerable to immune attack and inform who might benefit from those therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Approaches that stimulate innate immunity or use immune agonists are promising in preclinical models but have shown limited success so far in glioma patients, so this work builds on early but not yet proven findings.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashley, David M. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Ashley, David M.
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.