Blocking PIM-2 to boost the immune system against cancer
Targeting PIM-2 Kinase for Improving Cancer Immunotherapy
This project looks at whether blocking a protein called PIM-2 can make T cells stronger at attacking cancers like breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258967 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, scientists are studying how PIM-2 affects immune T cells using genetically modified mice and laboratory tests. They will use genetic deletion and drug-like blockers of PIM-2 to see whether T cells become better at killing tumor cells. The team will also watch for harmful effects such as increased graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant models. The goal is to learn ways to make T-cell–based cancer treatments work for more people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers treated with or considered for T-cell–based immunotherapy (for example certain breast cancers or T-cell leukemias), or patients willing to donate samples for research, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not depend on T-cell responses or who are not candidates for immunotherapy may not benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new approaches that make immunotherapies more effective for patients whose tumors currently do not respond.
How similar studies have performed: PIM kinase inhibitors have shown anti-tumor activity in lab studies, but using PIM-2 blockade specifically to strengthen T-cell anti-tumor responses is relatively new and mainly tested in animals so far.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Xue-Zhong — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Yu, Xue-Zhong
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.