Blocking TEM8 to help the immune system fight tumors
Unraveling and counteracting immunoinhibitory signals of the tumor microenvironment for improved cancer immunotherapy
Researchers are testing whether blocking a tumor protein called TEM8 can help the immune system fight cancers that resist immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332201 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how immune cells in tumors called macrophages can be switched into a tumor-helping state by a protein named TEM8. The team used large-scale genetic screening to find a macrophage receptor for TEM8 and studies how TEM8 causes that receptor to be degraded. They test monoclonal antibodies that block the TEM8–receptor interaction in lab experiments and mouse models to see if macrophages shift to a tumor-fighting state. If successful, the researchers aim to combine TEM8-blocking approaches with existing immunotherapies like CAR‑T cells or checkpoint inhibitors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be people with solid tumors that show high TEM8 levels or cancers that have not responded to current immunotherapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express TEM8 or whose disease is driven by factors unrelated to immune suppression are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, TEM8-blocking treatments could reduce tumor immune suppression and improve responses to immunotherapies for patients with TEM8-expressing cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical mouse studies have shown that disrupting TEM8 can slow tumor growth, but this TEM8-targeting approach has not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Liping — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Yang, Liping
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.