Finding drug and immune therapy targets for synovial sarcoma

Project 3: Identifying Targetable Epigenetic and Immuno-Oncologic Vulnerabilities in Synovial Sarcoma

NIH-funded research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11181599

This project looks for weaknesses in synovial sarcoma cells that new drugs or immune therapies could target for people with synovial sarcoma.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11181599 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be part of work that maps how the SS18::SSX fusion and related changes to tumor chromatin make synovial sarcoma cells vulnerable. Researchers will use tumor genomic data, engineered cell lines, and immune‑peptidomics to find shared neoantigens created by the fusion protein and epigenetic changes that drugs could exploit. They will test combinations of epigenetic drugs and T cell–based approaches in the lab and plan to translate promising findings into early clinical trials. The team combines experts in cancer genomics, epigenetics, T cell biology, and sarcoma clinical care to move lab discoveries toward treatments for patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with synovial sarcoma—especially those with metastatic or recurrent disease or whose tumors have undergone genomic profiling—would be most relevant to this project.

Not a fit: Patients with other cancer types, or those whose tumors lack the specific fusion-related or epigenetic changes studied here, are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug and immune therapy targets that lead to longer-lasting control or remissions of metastatic synovial sarcoma.

How similar studies have performed: Approaches targeting neoantigens and epigenetic vulnerabilities have shown promise in some cancers but are still experimental in synovial sarcoma.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anti-Cancer Agents
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.