Egfl6: a potential target to boost immune therapy in ovarian cancer
Official title: The Role of Egfl6 in Tumor Immunity
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11608580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether targeting the protein Egfl6 can improve immune-based treatments for ovarian cancer by reducing immune-suppressing cells in the tumor environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $307,558 |
| NIH project number | 6R01CA276279-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11608580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ovarian cancer, especially those considering or receiving immune-based therapies, and those who might contribute samples or data for translational follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on the Egfl6 pathway or who do not respond to myeloid cell–targeted strategies may see no benefit.
What this research studies
Ovarian cancer has a high death rate, and immune checkpoint therapies often don’t work well. The research explores whether blocking Egfl6 can lessen suppressor immune cells like MDSCs and TAMs that hinder anti-tumor responses. In mouse models, Egfl6 affects myeloid cells and links to changes that make tumors less responsive to immune therapy. If successful, this work could lead to new combination strategies to enhance immune checkpoint therapy for patients with ovarian cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with ovarian cancer could benefit from more effective immune therapies and improved survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in mice suggest targeting tumor-supportive myeloid cells can modulate immune responses, supporting exploration of Egfl6 in this context.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cascio, Sandra — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Cascio, Sandra
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.