NIH-funded research R01 grant

Cell lineage as a predictor of immune response in neuroblastoma

Official title: Cell lineage as an indicator of immune response in neuroblastoma

Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11323558 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Researchers are exploring how the cell type of a child’s neuroblastoma tumor may determine how well immune-based therapies work.

More Neuroblastoma research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDana-Farber Cancer Inst
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startJune 16, 2022
Project endMay 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$405,378
NIH project number5R01CA271605-05
Project IDNIH-11323558 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Children with neuroblastoma whose tumors exhibit mesenchymal-like or adrenergic cell lineage states may be most relevant for future applications of this work.

Less likely to help

Patients whose tumors do not show the studied lineage differences may have less direct benefit from the findings.

What this research studies

This project looks at how different cell lineages within pediatric neuroblastoma tumors influence the effectiveness of immune-based treatments. By analyzing a large dataset of tumor gene activity, the team identifies mesenchymal-like tumors that may respond more to immune therapies and adrenergic (ADR) neuron-like tumors that tend to be less responsive. The work seeks to map immune signaling patterns to tumor cell states and test whether lineage state can predict treatment outcomes. The ultimate goal is to guide more personalized immunotherapy strategies for children with neuroblastoma.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help tailor immunotherapy approaches to a child’s tumor cell state, potentially improving response rates and outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked tumor cell states to immunogenicity in neuroblastoma, with promising signals that lineage state can influence therapy response.

Where this research is happening

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: George, Rani E. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
  • Study coordinator: George, Rani E.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.