Helping engineered T cells reach hard-to-treat tumors
Synthetic circuits that drive infiltration of therapeutic T cells into immunologically cold tumors
Researchers are redesigning CAR T cells so they can enter and attack solid tumors that usually keep immune cells out.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164778 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your tumor keeps immune cells from getting in, scientists are engineering CAR T cells with built-in "traffic" circuits that sense tumor signals to move into and stay inside tumors. They will change T cells to control movement (chemotaxis), sticking to tumor tissue (adhesion), and local growth signals so the cells can build up where they are needed. The project uses lab experiments and preclinical tests to see whether these modified T cells infiltrate immune-excluded "cold" tumors and kill cancer cells more effectively. If the lab and animal results look promising, the approach could be developed toward early human testing at medical centers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid cancers that are "immune-excluded" or "cold" and who might be eligible for future CAR T cell trials would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors already allow T-cell infiltration, whose cancers lack the specific target antigen, or who are too medically fragile for cell therapy may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could make CAR T cell therapy work for solid tumors that now resist immune attack by helping therapeutic T cells reach and persist inside tumors.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T cells have been successful in some blood cancers but have had limited success in solid tumors, and directly wiring trafficking circuits is a newer and largely unproven strategy.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lim, Wendell a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lim, Wendell a
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 below.