How a rare intestinal T‑cell lymphoma begins
Official title: Clinical and Genetic Origins of Monomorphic Epitheliotropic Intestinal T Cell Lymphoma
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11251241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether losing the SETD2 gene and turning on certain cancer genes causes a rare intestinal T‑cell lymphoma and makes it more sensitive to chemotherapy for people with MEITL.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $416,602 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277192-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T‑cell lymphoma (MEITL) or patients with T‑cell lymphomas shown to have SETD2 alterations would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated cancers or lymphomas that do not involve SETD2 changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will use genetically engineered mice that mimic human intestinal immune cells to see how loss of the SETD2 gene creates a pool of abnormal cells that could become cancer. They will combine SETD2 loss with activation of the cancer genes STAT5B or MYC to learn whether those changes drive intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes into lymphoma. The team will also expose SETD2-deficient lymphoma cells to different DNA‑damaging chemotherapy drugs to check whether SETD2 loss increases treatment sensitivity. Findings are intended to point toward better treatment choices for people with MEITL and other lymphomas that lack SETD2.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify why MEITL forms and suggest chemotherapy strategies that work better for patients whose tumors lack SETD2.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genetic studies have repeatedly found SETD2 mutations in MEITL, but using mouse models to test how SETD2 loss combines with STAT5B or MYC and alters chemotherapy response is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dave, Sandeep — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Dave, Sandeep
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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.