Developing drugs to block cancer cells from stealing energy from immune cells
Official title: Tunneling Nanotube Inhibitors for Cancer Immunotherapy
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10890886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny tentacle-like structures to take energy from immune cells, and it aims to develop new medications that can stop this process to make current cancer treatments work better for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $620,466 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276525-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that are resistant to current immunotherapies, particularly those with breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not involve immune evasion mechanisms or those who are not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cancer cells use tiny tentacle-like structures to connect with immune cells and steal their energy, which helps the cancer grow. The team aims to create new medications that can block this process, specifically by targeting a protein complex involved in the formation of these tentacles. They will test these new drugs in the lab and in animal models to ensure they are safe and effective, especially when used alongside existing cancer treatments. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of current immunotherapies for cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that improve patient outcomes by enhancing the immune response against tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting similar mechanisms of immune evasion in cancer, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sengupta, Shiladitya — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sengupta, Shiladitya
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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.