Developing a new treatment for ovarian cancer using engineered proteins
Official title: Lectikines for Immunotherapy against Ovarian Cancer
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11020971 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for ovarian cancer that uses a special protein to help the immune system target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, and it's designed for people battling this tough disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $216,987 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA280141-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020971 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, particularly those who have not responded well to existing treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer or those who have not been diagnosed with ovarian cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create a novel immunotherapeutic drug candidate specifically targeting ovarian cancer, which is a leading cause of death among gynecological cancers. The approach involves engineering a small protein called Avaren lectin that can selectively bind to ovarian cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. By combining this lectin with a human antibody fragment, the researchers hope to enhance the immune response against the cancer cells. The study will utilize both laboratory and animal models to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this new treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and targeted treatment option for patients with ovarian cancer, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of engineered proteins in cancer immunotherapy is a growing field, this specific approach utilizing Avaren lectin for ovarian cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Matoba, Nobuyuki — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Matoba, Nobuyuki
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Next-Generation NK Cell Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
A cutting-edge, donor-derived natural killer (NK) cell therapy is being developed to treat ovarian cancer more safely and effectively than traditional CAR-T approaches.
-
Targeting PP4 to boost ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
A Mayo Clinic study aims to see if inhibiting PP4 can make chemo-resistant ovarian cancer more responsive to immunotherapy.
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Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy for Resistant High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer with a New Platinum Nanotherapy
A new platinum-based nanotherapy is being tested to help women with chemoresistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer survive longer by boosting cancer-killing immune responses.
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Next-generation engineered NK cell therapy for ovarian cancer
This project offers a new off-the-shelf NK cell treatment designed to attack ovarian cancer, especially disease that is resistant to platinum chemotherapy.
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Improving ovarian cancer treatment with immunotherapy by targeting PP4
This project looks at how blocking a protein called PP4 might make immunotherapy work better for women with ovarian cancer.
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Investigating a new immunotherapy approach for ovarian cancer
This study is testing a new treatment for advanced ovarian cancer that combines a special immune therapy with a vaccine to help your body fight the cancer better, and it’s looking for patients to see how well it works and if it’s safe.
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.