Blocking SEC61 to help immunotherapy work better for glioblastoma
Targeting SEC61 complex to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in GBM
This project tries to see if blocking a protein called SEC61 can make immunotherapy work better for people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251808 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers used a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen in glioma cells to find genes that make tumors resistant to T cell–based immunotherapy and identified SEC61G. They are studying how removing or blocking SEC61G changes cancer-cell signaling and sensitivity to T cells using proteomics and lab-grown tumor models. The team will test SEC61-targeting approaches together with existing immunotherapies in preclinical models to see if tumor responses improve. Successful lab results would inform whether SEC61-targeted strategies should move into early clinical trials for people with GBM.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma—especially those whose tumors show high SEC61G expression or genomic amplification—would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical trials.
Not a fit: People without glioblastoma or whose tumors do not overexpress SEC61G are unlikely to benefit from SEC61-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, targeting SEC61 could make immunotherapy more effective against glioblastoma and potentially slow tumor growth or extend survival.
How similar studies have performed: Genome-wide CRISPR screens and laboratory studies have revealed resistance mechanisms in cancers before, but directly targeting SEC61G in GBM is a relatively new approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balyasnikova, Irina V — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Balyasnikova, Irina V
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.