Engineered CAR-T immune cells to target glioblastoma and its tumor environment
Official title: Targeting Glioblastoma Cells and Tumor Microenvironment with CAR-T Cell Therapy
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11377176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Engineered CAR-T immune cells are designed to attack glioblastoma tumors and boost the local immune response in adults with GBM.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $8,612 |
| NIH project number | 3P50CA211015-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377176 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with glioblastoma, particularly those whose tumors express the IL-13Rα2 antigen, would be the most likely candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express IL-13Rα2, those with non-glioblastoma brain tumors, or pediatric patients are unlikely to benefit from this specific CAR-T approach.
What this research studies
This project develops CAR-T cells that recognize the IL-13Rα2 protein found on many glioblastoma tumors and equips those T cells to release immune-stimulating molecules (IL-12 and DR-18) to overcome the tumor's suppressive environment. Researchers tested these armored CAR-T cells in patient-derived tumor grafts and immune-competent mouse models and saw stronger anti-tumor effects than standard single-target CAR-Ts. The work builds on earlier human trials showing IL-13Rα2-targeted CAR-T can be given safely, and aims to translate the enhanced approach into therapies that can reach tumor cells that hide in the brain. Future steps would involve clinical development and trials at centers that treat adults with glioblastoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce more effective CAR-T treatments that better shrink glioblastoma tumors and improve outcomes for people with GBM.
How similar studies have gone: Early human trials of IL-13Rα2 CAR-T cells showed safety but limited clinical benefit, while the IL-12/DR-18 armored CAR-T strategy has demonstrated promising results in preclinical tumor graft and mouse models.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yvonne Yu-Hsuan
Related research
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CAR-T Cell Therapy for Brain Tumors
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Targeting glioblastoma with advanced CAR-T cell therapy
This study is testing a new type of CAR-T cell therapy for people with glioblastoma, a tough brain cancer, to see if it can better target and attack the cancer cells while also helping the immune system fight back.
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Small molecules to block Slit2/ROBO in glioblastoma
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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.