Blocking a protein called GARP to help the immune system fight non-small cell lung cancer
Official title: Targeting GARP-TGFbeta for Immunotherapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11173899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antibody that targets GARP is being developed to reduce immune-suppressing TGFβ in tumors and help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $632,185 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282501-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173899 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with non-small cell lung cancer—especially those who have not responded well to checkpoint inhibitor therapies—would be the most likely candidates for related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express GARP or who cannot receive antibody treatments due to medical reasons may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work on a laboratory antibody called PIIO-1 that blocks a tumor-associated protein (GARP) which helps activate TGFβ, a molecule that weakens anti-tumor immunity. The team created a humanized mouse with the human GARP sequence to test PIIO-1 in lung cancer models and to study how it works with existing checkpoint-blocking immunotherapies. Researchers will measure immune cell activity, tumor growth, and signs of side effects, paying attention to avoiding effects on platelets. If the approach looks safe and effective in these tests, it could move toward clinical trials for people with non-small cell lung cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make current immunotherapies work for more people with non-small cell lung cancer by reducing local immune suppression in tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work targeting TGFβ pathways has shown promise but also systemic side effects, and selectively targeting GARP with a monoclonal antibody is a more novel, translational strategy building on those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Zihai — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Zihai
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting GARP-TGFβ to Improve Immunotherapy in NSCLC
A new antibody approach aims to block a key TGFβ-related pathway in the tumor environment to help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better to therapy.
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Targeting DHX9 to boost viral-like immune response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
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Integrated blood and radiomics to guide immunotherapy in metastatic NSCLC
A research project aims to use blood tests and advanced imaging patterns to personalize first-line immunotherapy choices for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
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Blocking a tumor pathway to boost immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
This project will see if adding a drug that blocks the Hedgehog pathway to immune checkpoint therapy helps people with non-small cell lung cancer by restoring the immune system's CD8 T cells inside tumors.
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Improving Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer with CT Scans
This work aims to find new ways to predict which non-small cell lung cancer patients will respond best to immunotherapy using information from their routine CT scans.
-
Using CT scans and patient tests to predict who will benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy
A computer tool combines CT scan features, blood and tumor markers, and clinical data to predict which people with advanced lung or bladder cancer are likely to benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy.
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.