Gene-modified immune-cell vaccine for non-small-cell lung cancer
Official title: Flt3l gene-modified cDC1 in situ vaccination in NSCLC: mechanisms and therapeutic application
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11129651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a gene-modified dendritic-cell vaccine to boost the immune system against non-small-cell lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX006194-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with non-small-cell lung cancer, particularly those with tumors accessible for local treatment and who receive care at the VA Greater Los Angeles or affiliated UCLA clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People without non-small-cell lung cancer (for example, small-cell lung cancer), those with active severe autoimmune disease or on strong immunosuppression, or patients too frail for procedures are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are modifying a specific immune cell (cDC1) to express the growth factor Flt3L and delivering these cells into tumors to turn the cancer itself into a vaccine. They will study how this in situ vaccination triggers anti-tumor immune responses and the biological mechanisms behind those responses. The work combines laboratory experiments, bioinformatics, and analysis of patient-derived samples as part of a translational program at the VA Greater Los Angeles and UCLA. The team includes lung cancer clinicians and cancer immunology experts aiming to translate promising lab findings toward clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could produce a new immunotherapy that helps the body better recognize and destroy lung tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Early trials of dendritic-cell vaccines and intratumoral vaccination have shown some immune responses, but using Flt3L gene-modified cDC1 is a novel and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salehi-Rad, Ramin — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Salehi-Rad, Ramin
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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.