CD4 helper T cells that boost immune attacks inside tumors
CD4 helper programs that regulate intratumoral immunity
This project looks at whether CD4 helper T cells can help the immune system fight liver cancer and make PD‑1 immunotherapy work better for patients.
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-11307644 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers saw that a CD4 helper cell type was more common in liver cancer patients who responded to PD‑1 therapy, and they want to learn how those cells help. They will combine patient sample data with experiments in an immune‑active mouse model of liver cancer to find the key genes and secreted signals these CD4 cells use. The team will study how PD‑1 signaling changes these CD4 helper cells and map which other immune cells they interact with in tumors. Understanding these interactions could explain how CD4 help turns exhausted CD8 T cells into more active cancer‑killing cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with liver cancer, especially those receiving or considered for PD‑1 immunotherapy, would be the most relevant patient group for related clinical work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not trigger similar immune responses or those not eligible for immunotherapy may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost CD4 helper cells or combine therapies to improve responses to PD‑1 immunotherapy in liver cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical and laboratory studies have linked Tfh‑like CD4 cells with better responses to PD‑1 therapy, but the precise mechanisms remain largely untested and are the focus here.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kamphorst, Alice Oliffson — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Kamphorst, Alice Oliffson
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.