Blocking tumor-supporting immune cells that silence cancer immunity
Therapeutic targeting MDSC-mediated immune suppression in cancer
This project tests ways to remove or disable immune cells called MDSCs that stop the body from fighting cancer, with the goal of helping people with cancer respond better to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235119 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), immune cells that build up in tumors and prevent other immune cells from attacking cancer. They will separate the different MDSC types, focusing on neutrophil-like PMN-MDSCs, and test whether these cells are vulnerable to ferroptosis, a particular form of cell death. Using laboratory and tumor models, the team will try approaches that trigger ferroptosis in the suppressive MDSCs to see if removing them restores anti-tumor immunity. The results could point toward new ways to combine MDSC-targeting approaches with existing cancer immunotherapies for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with solid tumors that show high levels of suppressive myeloid cells, particularly those receiving or not responding to immunotherapy, would be the most likely candidates for future therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: People whose cancers do not involve these suppressive myeloid cells or whose disease is driven by unrelated mechanisms may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could strengthen patients' immune responses to tumors and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting MDSCs has produced promising results in preclinical studies, but specifically inducing ferroptosis in PMN-MDSCs is a newer idea that remains mostly at the laboratory stage.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nefedova, Yulia — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Nefedova, Yulia
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.