How a chemical change to immune signals affects bladder cancer
Novel mechanism of chemokine nitration in bladder cancer
This work looks at whether a modified immune signal (nitration-resistant CCL2) can help T cells get into bladder tumors and improve immune control for people with bladder cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322656 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a chemical change called nitration that can disable the chemokine CCL2, an immune signal that helps T cells move into tumors. They will make a nitration-resistant form of CCL2 (rCCL2NR) and test whether it restores T cell recruitment using laboratory models and tumor samples. The team will examine how nitration affects tumor biology and whether reversing it can boost anti-tumor immunity. Findings may guide development of new therapies or biomarkers to predict who benefits from immunotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with bladder cancer—especially those who have persistent or recurrent disease, have limited response to current immunotherapies, or who can provide tumor tissue for research—are the most relevant candidates for this line of work.
Not a fit: People without bladder cancer or whose tumors do not rely on CCL2-mediated immune recruitment are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore T cell access to bladder tumors and improve responses to immune therapies for some patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous attempts to use chemokines therapeutically have largely failed in patients, so using a nitration-resistant CCL2 is a novel and currently untested strategy in humans.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Neelam — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Neelam
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.