Cancer-fighting viruses to boost immune attack on tumors
POTENTIATION OF ANTI-TUMOR IMMUNITY BY ONCOLYTIC VIRUS IN SITU VACCINATION
This research uses viruses injected into tumors to help the immune system better attack cancers such as ovarian and colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300194 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses cancer-killing viruses delivered directly into tumors to stimulate immune cells that can attack cancer cells. Researchers will compare different types of oncolytic viruses and study whether the T cells that increase after treatment are reacting to the tumor or to the virus itself, using tumor samples and animal models. They will analyze T cell clones and phenotypes in treated and distant tumors and build on earlier trials combining oncolytic viruses with immune checkpoint drugs. The work aims to shift the immune response toward tumor-specific activity to improve anti-cancer effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be patients with solid tumors (for example ovarian or colorectal cancer) that have injectable or accessible lesions and who are eligible for immunotherapy trials.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that cannot be reached for injection (for example many blood cancers), who are medically unfit for immune activation, or whose tumors lack accessible biopsy sites may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make more tumors responsive to immunotherapy, potentially leading to better tumor shrinkage and longer survival for some patients.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical trials of oncolytic viruses, including ONCOS-102 combined with checkpoint inhibitors, have shown increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and some clinical responses, but the precise role of virus-reactive versus tumor-reactive T cells remains unclear.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zamarin, Dmitriy — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Zamarin, Dmitriy
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.