Blocking TREM2 to improve cancer immunotherapy
Targeting TREM2 to boost anti-cancer therapy
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11169833
This project tests whether blocking a protein called TREM2 on immune cells can help immunotherapy work better for people with tumors that resist current treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11169833 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are using antibodies to block TREM2, a receptor on tumor-associated macrophages, in mouse tumor models and examining human tumor samples to see how the immune environment changes. They combine TREM2 blockade with PD-1 checkpoint therapy in mice to see if tumors shrink more or regress. High-resolution immune profiling will track how macrophages and other immune cells remodel after treatment. The team plans to use insights from both mouse work and human tissue analysis to guide future efforts toward clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors that do not respond well to existing checkpoint inhibitor therapies and whose tumors show TREM2-expressing myeloid cells.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack TREM2-expressing immune cells or who are not eligible for immunotherapy are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make checkpoint immunotherapies work for more patients by reducing immune suppression in tumors and helping tumors shrink.
How similar studies have performed: Early mouse studies, including the project's preliminary data, showed TREM2 blockade improved responses and drove tumor regression with PD-1 therapy, but human testing remains limited.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: COLONNA, MARCO — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: COLONNA, MARCO
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.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's disease model