Blocking cancer cells' 'self-eating' to boost immunotherapy for melanoma
Targeting autophagy to enhance immune checkpoint inhibition
This work looks at whether adding drugs that block autophagy (cells' "self-eating") can help immune checkpoint medicines work better for people with advanced melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at the Wistar Institute are exploring whether new drugs that inhibit autophagy can overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapies in stage IV melanoma. They will study how these inhibitors change interactions between tumor cells and immune cells, focusing on myeloid cells, T cells, and cancer cells. The team will compare different next-generation lysosomal and non-lysosomal autophagy inhibitors combined with anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies in lab and clinically relevant mouse models. The project is done in partnership with biotech companies developing these inhibitors for clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with advanced (stage IV) melanoma who have not responded to or have developed resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage melanoma, other cancer types, or those not treated with or eligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immunotherapy effective again for patients whose melanoma has stopped responding, potentially improving survival and treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Some laboratory studies and early clinical work (including trials with hydroxychloroquine) suggest autophagy blockade can boost cancer treatments, but clear clinical success in overcoming checkpoint inhibitor resistance is not yet established and newer inhibitors are still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amaravadi, Ravi K — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Amaravadi, Ravi K
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.