Helping the immune system recognize glioblastoma tumors

Regulation of Tumor Immunogenicity in Glioblastoma

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11299535

This project looks at ways to make glioblastoma tumors more visible to a patient's immune system so immunotherapy might work better.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11299535 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The researchers are studying a protein called PP2A in glioblastoma cells to see how it controls signals that tell the immune system a tumor is present. In lab-grown tumor cells and animal models they lower PP2A activity and observe increased interferon signaling, higher MHC‑I on tumor cells, and more T cells entering tumors. They are studying how cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA and the cGAS‑STING pathway contribute to these immune changes. The goal is to find approaches that could sensitize glioblastoma to checkpoint-blocking immunotherapies used in patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) with glioblastoma or those interested in new immune-based treatment approaches for this disease are most relevant to this work.

Not a fit: People with other types of cancer, children under 21, or patients whose tumors have very different biology are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make immunotherapies effective for some people with glioblastoma, potentially improving tumor control and survival.

How similar studies have performed: Related lab and animal studies—including data showing that inhibiting PP2A can improve anti‑PD‑1 responses in preclinical models—are promising, but immunotherapy has not yet shown consistent success in people with glioblastoma.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, 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 Brain Cancer
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.