HLA‑E/NKG2A immune 'brake' in early bladder cancer
HLA-E and NKG2A define a novel immune checkpoint axis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
The team is exploring whether targeting an immune 'brake' called HLA‑E/NKG2A can help people with non‑muscle‑invasive (early) bladder cancer who receive BCG therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285326 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer, researchers will collect tumor tissue and blood or urine samples before and after BCG treatment to see how your immune system reacts. They will measure levels of HLA‑E and the NKG2A receptor on killer immune cells (natural killer and CD8 T cells) and look for inflammatory signals linked to treatment resistance. Lab studies using patient samples and models will test whether the HLA‑E/NKG2A pathway acts as an immune 'brake' that allows tumors to recur after BCG. The goal is to find biomarkers to predict who benefits from BCG and to point to new targets that could prevent recurrence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer, especially those starting BCG or who have had recurrence after BCG.
Not a fit: People with muscle‑invasive bladder cancer or those not treated with BCG are unlikely to be eligible or benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help predict who will respond to BCG and lead to new treatments that reduce recurrences of early bladder cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Blocking NKG2A is an emerging immunotherapy approach with early promise in other cancers, but its use in non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horowitz, Amir — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Horowitz, Amir
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.