Blocking IL-6 and EGFR signals to ease schwannomatosis pain
Co-Targeting IL-6 and EGFRsignaling for the Treatment of Schwannomatosis and Associated Pain
This project will try blocking two inflammatory signals, IL-6 and EGFR, to help people with schwannomatosis who have painful nerve tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247947 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers grew tumor cells taken from people with schwannomatosis in lab models that reproduce nerve tumors and pain. They use those patient-derived tumors in mice to study how tumor signals recruit immune cells and cause nerve pain. The team is testing drugs that block IL-6 and EGFR signaling to see whether those treatments reduce inflammation, tumor effects on nerves, and pain behaviors in the models. Results will guide whether these approaches could move toward early human testing or new drug options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with genetically confirmed schwannomatosis who have painful schwannomas on peripheral nerves or the spine and might donate tumor tissue or participate in future trials.
Not a fit: People without schwannomatosis, whose pain comes from unrelated conditions, or who have other tumor types are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new drug options that reduce schwannomatosis-related nerve pain and may lower the need for risky surgeries.
How similar studies have performed: Early lab and animal work showed that blocking IL-6 reduced pain in these patient-derived models, but combining IL-6 and EGFR blockade is a newer strategy not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Lei — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Xu, Lei
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.