Boosting tumor-fighting T cells by targeting immune-suppressing cells
Targeting S1P-ACC Axis to Overcome MDSC Suppression
Researchers will try to make adoptive T cell therapy work better for people with tumors by blocking a lipid-making pathway in immune-suppressing cells in the tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308348 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, this project looks at cells in the tumor that weaken T cell therapies and aims to change their metabolism so they stop suppressing the immune response. The team uses preclinical tumor models and genetically altered mice to study how sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling and the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme affect myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). They measure immune signals, fatty-acid synthesis, and how well adoptively transferred T cells can kill tumors when MDSC metabolism is altered. The goal is to identify targets that could be turned into treatments to help patients receiving cell therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors who are receiving or are eligible for adoptive cellular immunotherapy and whose tumors show immune-suppressive myeloid cells.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not rely on myeloid-derived suppressor cells, or who are not candidates for T cell–based therapies, may not directly benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could increase the effectiveness of adoptive T cell therapies by reducing immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment.
How similar studies have performed: Metabolic targeting of immune-suppressive cells has shown promising results in preclinical studies, but linking S1P signaling to ACC-driven fatty acid synthesis in MDSCs is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehrotra, Shikhar — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Mehrotra, Shikhar
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.