Enhancing the immune response against tumors by targeting DNA-PK activity
Official title: Expanding the tumor antigen landscape and maintaining APCs in a T cell-activating state to restore tumor immunity
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11076312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blocking a certain enzyme can help your immune system better spot and fight tumors, especially those that don't respond well to current treatments, with the hope of making immunotherapy work better for more cancer patients, particularly those with melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 3, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $473,680 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA271537-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with weakly immunogenic tumors, such as certain types of melanoma, who have not responded well to existing therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with highly immunogenic tumors that already respond well to current immunotherapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how inhibiting a specific enzyme called DNA-PK can boost the immune system's ability to recognize and attack tumors, particularly those that are less responsive to current treatments. By increasing the expression of tumor antigens and maintaining immune cells in an active state, the study aims to improve the effectiveness of T cell-based immunotherapies. The approach involves screening numerous compounds to identify those that can enhance the immune response in cancer patients, especially in melanoma. If successful, this could lead to more durable and widespread responses to immunotherapy in a broader range of cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer patients, leading to better treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with similar approaches targeting immune modulation in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davila, Eduardo V — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Davila, Eduardo V
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.