Drug-free therapy that targets B-cell cancers
Drug-Free Macromolecular Therapeutics
This project develops a drug-free treatment that uses engineered molecules to bring a patient's own T cells to kill B-cell cancers like multiple myeloma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296671 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The approach makes macromolecules that bind cancer markers and link together to either trigger cancer cell death or to bring T cells close enough to kill the cancer. Short DNA-like pieces called MORFs are attached to antibody fragments and carrier proteins so matching MORFs hybridize and mediate receptor crosslinking or T-cell engagement. The team has shown activity in lab tests, animal models, and on cells taken from patients with B-cell malignancies and is expanding the system into a multi-antigen 'MATCH' design. This work focuses on targets such as BCMA, CD38, and GPRC5D to address multiple myeloma and related B-cell cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with B-cell malignancies—for example relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma—whose tumors express target antigens like BCMA, CD38, or GPRC5D.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack the targeted antigens, who have severely impaired immune systems, or who have non–B-cell cancers are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could offer a targeted, drug-free way to harness a patient's immune system against B-cell cancers, potentially improving effectiveness and lowering some drug-related side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Related bispecific antibodies that recruit T cells to BCMA or GPRC5D have shown clinical benefit and earned FDA approval for relapsed multiple myeloma, while the DFMT/MATCH approach is a novel, drug-free adaptation of that concept.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kopecek, Jindrich H. — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Kopecek, Jindrich H.
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 below.