Harnessing the Immune System to Target Adrenal Cancer
Official title: Harnessing Immune System to Target Adrenal Cancer Microenvironment
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11299100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how the immune system can be directed to fight adrenal cancer, with a focus on helping patients who have limited treatment options and where surgery isn’t possible.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RD001392-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), including Veterans, whose tumors have a favorable post-mitotane immune landscape and who may be candidates for future immunotherapy trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with ACC whose tumors do not exhibit the immune characteristics being studied or who are not eligible for future trial opportunities may not benefit.
What this research studies
Adrenal cancer is a rare and challenging disease with few effective therapies beyond surgery and mitotane. This project aims to understand the immune environment of adrenal tumors and identify combinations with immunotherapy that could improve outcomes for patients, including Veterans. The team has developed new human adrenal cancer cell lines, several patient-derived tumor models in mice, and a humanized mouse model to study how immune therapies might work in ACC. By linking tumor characteristics to immune response, the work seeks to guide future trials and personalized treatment strategies. The overarching goal is to move toward effective, targeted immunotherapies for ACC patients who currently have limited options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for adrenal cancer patients, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors in ACC have shown limited efficacy, so success is not yet proven and this work represents an approach building on early signals.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiseljakvassiliades, Katja — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Kiseljakvassiliades, Katja
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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.