Exploring a new immune checkpoint pathway in bladder cancer
Official title: A New Immune Checkpoint Pathway in Human Bladder Cancer
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11211170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way that bladder cancer can hide from the immune system, and it aims to find better treatments that help more patients by targeting this hidden pathway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $91,651 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA262132-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11211170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer, particularly those who have not responded to existing PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous bladder conditions or those whose bladder cancer is not amenable to immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a newly identified immune checkpoint pathway in bladder cancer, which could lead to more effective treatments. The study focuses on understanding how the KIR3DL3-HHLA2 pathway functions and its role in suppressing the immune response against bladder cancer cells. By examining the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, the researchers aim to develop novel immunotherapies that target this pathway. This work is crucial as current treatments only benefit a small percentage of patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new immunotherapy options for bladder cancer patients, potentially improving survival rates and treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the KIR3DL3-HHLA2 pathway is a novel focus, similar immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promise in other cancers, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zang, Xingxing — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Zang, Xingxing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Population modeling to reduce bladder cancer burden
Aimed at predicting and guiding effective, population-based ways to prevent and control bladder cancer.
-
Blocking a new immune checkpoint in bladder cancer
Researchers are trying medicines that block a newly found immune pathway to help people with bladder cancer, especially those whose tumors do not respond to current immunotherapy.
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Nrf2 in T cells and how it could boost immune power against bladder cancer
A small grant will explore how a T-cell protein called Nrf2 affects muscle-invasive bladder cancer and whether targeting it could help patients respond better to immune therapies.
-
Understanding why bladder cancer spreads and resists treatment
This grant studies how advanced bladder cancer changes and spreads across the body, aiming to uncover why it’s hard to treat.
-
Molecular clues to bladder cancer cell changes and therapy response
This NIH grant looks at how bladder cancer cells change their identity and how that affects response to treatment, with a focus on aggressive neuroendocrine variants.
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Repurposing spironolactone to treat bladder cancer inside the bladder
Aims to repurpose spironolactone as an intravesical treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer to help prevent recurrence and progression.
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.