Blocking DHX9 to wake the immune system against small cell lung cancer
Targeting DHX9 to trigger viral mimicry and immunotherapy responsiveness in Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
The team will block a protein called DHX9 in small cell lung cancer to trigger virus-like signals in tumors so they may respond better to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158849 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers plan to block DHX9 in small cell lung cancer cells to cause buildup of double-stranded RNAs and RNA–DNA hybrids that mimic viral infection. They will study how this activates innate immunity and whether it turns immunologically 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones that respond to immune checkpoint drugs. Experiments will use cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and analysis of human tumor samples to measure immune activation and tumor response. Successful findings would support future clinical trials combining DHX9-targeting approaches with immunotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with small cell lung cancer, especially those whose tumors have not responded to current immunotherapies, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with other cancer types or whose tumors lack the molecular features affected by DHX9 targeting may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make immunotherapy effective for more people with small cell lung cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Other methods that trigger viral mimicry (for example, DNA methylation inhibitors) have shown preclinical promise and early clinical signals, but directly targeting DHX9 is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Canadas, Israel — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Canadas, Israel
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.