Blocking SCD1 to help the immune system attack tumors
Modulation of cancer induced immune suppression via inhibition of SCD1
A new drug that blocks the enzyme SCD1 aims to make hard-to-treat breast and other solid tumors more visible to the immune system so immunotherapy works better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Modulation Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11328609 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a drug called MTI-301 (SSI-4) that blocks SCD1, an enzyme cancer cells use to reshape fats and hide from immune cells. In immune-competent mouse models and cancer cell lines, the drug alone and combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors caused tumor cell death and made tumors more responsive to T cell attack. The team is optimizing dosing and searching for biomarkers that predict which tumors will respond. This work is being done by Modulation Therapeutics as a step toward early-phase clinical trials for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with aggressive, poorly immunogenic solid tumors—including some breast cancers—with tumors that show high SCD1 activity or who have not responded to current immune checkpoint therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with cancer types that do not rely on SCD1-driven fat metabolism or those with non-solid tumors may not benefit from this approach, and the current project is mainly preclinical so direct patient benefit is not yet established.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make existing immunotherapies work for patients whose tumors currently do not respond and potentially expand effective treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies in cell lines and mouse models support SCD1 inhibition as a promising strategy, but clinical proof in people is not yet available.
Where this research is happening
Morgantown, United States
- Modulation Therapeutics, INC. — Morgantown, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayes, Karen E — Modulation Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hayes, Karen E
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.