Boosting NK-cell therapy for soft tissue sarcoma using a dog model
Targeting MIC to Augment Adoptive NK Therapy Using the Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma Model
This project combines an antibody that soaks up a tumor-made immune blocker with natural killer (NK) cell therapy to help dogs and, eventually, people with soft tissue sarcoma fight their tumors.
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-11299474 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine an anti-MIC antibody (B10G5) with adoptive NK-cell therapy to make NK cells more active against soft tissue sarcoma. Because mice lack the MIC gene, the team will use pet dogs with naturally occurring soft tissue sarcomas as a more relevant model for human disease. They will measure tumor shrinkage, NK-cell activity, and changes in the tumor immune environment, and test whether low-dose IL-2 improves NK function. If the combination shows safety and stronger anti-tumor effects in dogs, the approach could move toward early human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future human candidates would be people with MIC-expressing soft tissue sarcoma who are eligible for adoptive NK-cell therapy, while the current work enrolls dogs at participating veterinary centers.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express MIC, those with cancer types very different from soft tissue sarcoma, or those needing immediate standard-of-care therapy may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make NK-cell immunotherapy more effective against soft tissue sarcoma and possibly other solid tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical studies by this team and others show anti-MIC antibodies can revive NK and T cell activity, but translating NK-cell approaches into effective treatments for human solid tumors remains largely unproven and this combined strategy is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pollack, Seth M — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Pollack, Seth M
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.