CAR-T therapy targets for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) using autoantigen-derived targets
Official title: Translating Autoantibodies Into Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cell Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11393896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at a program aiming to use specially engineered immune cells to target SCLC by recognizing tumor-specific surface markers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $602,150 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA268066-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with small cell lung cancer who may be eligible for CAR-T therapies and meet safety criteria for early-stage immunotherapy trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors lack the selected target antigens or who cannot tolerate CAR-T therapy risks may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores turning the body’s T cells into CAR-T cells that can recognize and attack small cell lung cancer by targeting novel surface antigens identified on the tumor. Researchers will select the most promising targets from 13 candidates and focus on three that are common in SCLC, using tumor-specific post-translational changes as neoantigens to improve recognition. The project builds on evidence from SCLC-associated autoantibody responses to design CAR-T cells that can work in the challenging solid-tumor environment. The work involves preclinical testing and early steps toward translating this approach to patients, with careful attention to safety and efficacy in the context of SCLC biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new, targeted immunotherapy option for SCLC patients who have few effective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: CAR-T therapies have shown success in blood cancers and are being explored in solid tumors, with ongoing challenges that this project aims to address.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lastwika, Kristin J — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Lastwika, Kristin J
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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.