Creating immune cells to fight breast cancer using new technology
Official title: Engineering In Vivo Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macrophages (CARMs) using mRNA-exosomes for Cancer Immunotherapy
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-10890157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to boost the immune system's ability to fight HER2 positive breast cancer by using special tiny particles to help immune cells work better at targeting and destroying cancer cells right in the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $539,426 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284108-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of breast cancer or those who do not express the HER2 receptor may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel approach to enhance the immune response against breast cancer by engineering macrophages, a type of immune cell, to better target and destroy cancer cells. Instead of traditional methods that require complex lab procedures, this study aims to use mRNA-loaded exosomes to directly modify these immune cells within the body. This innovative technique could simplify the process and improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, particularly for patients with HER2 positive breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for breast cancer by harnessing the body's own immune system to fight tumors.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown success in treating blood cancers, this approach of using CAR macrophages in solid tumors is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested yet.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Wen — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Wen
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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.