How antibody treatments help the immune system fight cancer
Molecular mechanisms of antibody-mediated immunotherapies
This research looks at ways antibody medicines can train the immune system to recognize and remember cancer in people with advanced cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163370 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are working to understand how anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies interact with immune cells through Fc receptors to help the body kill tumor cells. They are improving antibody design (Fc engineering), testing how activating or blocking immune-signaling antibodies can boost a vaccine-like response, and studying changes in the tumor environment that affect immunity. Work includes laboratory and preclinical experiments and has led to at least one therapy now being tested in multiple clinical trials, all aimed at creating long-term immune memory to prevent cancer from coming back.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with advanced or metastatic cancers who are eligible for antibody-based immunotherapy or clinical trials of engineered antibodies would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with early-stage disease not treated with antibody therapies, tumors that lack the specific antibody target, or those too frail for trials are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to antibody treatments that produce lasting immune memory and reduce the chance of cancer recurrence, potentially improving survival.
How similar studies have performed: Related efforts to optimize antibody‑Fc interactions have already improved some anti‑tumor antibodies and one therapy from this group is in clinical trials showing early promising activity.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ravetch, Jeffrey Victor — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Ravetch, Jeffrey Victor
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.