Blocking MALT1 to boost the immune attack against aggressive B‑cell lymphoma
Official title: Targeting MALT1 to Enhance Anti-Lymphoma Immunity and Response to Immunotherapy
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11167467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if drugs that block a protein called MALT1 can help the immune system and improve immunotherapy for adults with aggressive diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $478,551 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282889-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, especially those with the MCD subtype (MYD88 and/or CD79B mutations) or whose disease did not respond to standard treatments or prior immunotherapy, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other non‑B‑cell cancers, indolent lymphomas, or tumors that lack MALT1‑driven biology are less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project uses new MALT1‑blocking drugs and laboratory models that mimic a hard‑to‑treat DLBCL subtype to study cancer and immune cell interactions. Researchers will test whether MALT1 inhibitors can weaken the tumor’s growth signals and restore immune cells that normally fight cancer. They will also explore combining MALT1 blockers with current immunotherapies to see if that combination improves tumor control. Findings will guide which patients, based on tumor biology, might benefit from future clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immunotherapy work for patients with aggressive, treatment‑resistant DLBCL and slow or stop tumor growth.
How similar studies have gone: Early MALT1 inhibitors have entered first‑in‑human trials and preclinical studies show promise, but using MALT1 blockade to overcome immune resistance in DLBCL is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zappasodi, Roberta — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Zappasodi, Roberta
Related research
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Targeting MALT1 to Strengthen Anti-Lymphoma Immunity and Boost Immunotherapy
Aims to improve treatment for a common type of B-cell lymphoma by blocking a specific protein (MALT1) to enhance the body's immune attack and response to existing therapies.
-
Understanding how immune features predict immunotherapy response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
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This project offers an off‑the‑shelf immune cell treatment using engineered natural killer T (NKT) cells for adults with B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphoma.
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Understanding CEACAM1 in Mantle Cell Lymphoma and New Treatments
This research looks for new ways to treat mantle cell lymphoma, especially for patients whose current medications are not working well.
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.