Boosting the power of cancer-fighting T cells in tumors
Targeting an unrecognized checkpoint on T cell function in tumors
This project explores how tumors prevent immune cells from effectively fighting cancer, aiming to make treatments like immunotherapy work better for more patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143659 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cancers often stop the body's immune cells, called T cells, from doing their job, allowing the disease to grow. While treatments like immune checkpoint blockers and CAR T cells have helped some, they don't work for everyone because tumors find many ways to hide from the immune system. This research focuses on a specific way tumors might be shutting down T cells: by releasing high levels of potassium when cancer cells die. By understanding how this high potassium environment weakens T cells, we hope to find new ways to unleash the immune system to fight cancer more effectively.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with various cancers who currently do not respond well to existing immunotherapies might eventually benefit from new treatments developed from this understanding.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not involve T cell dysfunction or high extracellular potassium levels in the tumor microenvironment may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies to enhance existing cancer immunotherapies, making them effective for a broader range of patients and tumor types.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds upon recent discoveries by the same team regarding potassium's role in suppressing T cells, suggesting a novel but evidence-backed direction for improving cancer immunotherapy.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eil, Robert Langland — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Eil, Robert Langland
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.