Developing new drugs to enhance cancer treatment effectiveness
Official title: Evaluating and Optimizing Novel nSMase2 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cancers
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10979021 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help cancer treatments work better by blocking a specific enzyme, which could boost the immune system's ability to fight tumors, especially for patients who haven't had success with current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $695,916 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA282475-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10979021 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adult cancer patients who have not responded to existing immune checkpoint therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are not resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving cancer treatment by developing small molecule inhibitors that target nSMase2, an enzyme involved in exosome biogenesis. By blocking this enzyme, the study aims to enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which are a type of cancer therapy that helps the immune system fight tumors. The research involves testing these inhibitors in various mouse models to evaluate their ability to promote antitumor immune responses and inhibit tumor growth. If successful, this approach could lead to new treatment options for patients who currently do not respond to existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new therapeutic options for cancer patients who are resistant to current immune checkpoint inhibitors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar approaches to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies, indicating potential for success in this novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blelloch, Robert — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Blelloch, Robert
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.