How BTNL9 helps special gamma‑delta immune cells fight epithelial cancers
Crosstalk between butyrophilins and gamma delta T cells in human cancer
This project tests whether a protein called BTNL9 turns on Vδ1 gamma‑delta T cells to better attack human epithelial cancers and whether those cells can be used as a new CAR T cell therapy.
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 ID | NIH-11175405 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine human tumor samples and blood to see how BTNL9 and certain lipids activate Vδ1 gamma‑delta T cells inside tumors. They will map the different gamma‑delta T cell types, track how they change over time in cancer, and define which subsets link to anti‑tumor activity. Lab experiments and preclinical models will be used to create and test allogeneic, exhaustion‑resilient Vδ1 CAR T cells and compare their tumor‑killing ability to standard αβ CAR T cells. The goal is to learn whether BTNL9‑dependent Vδ1 cells can control tumors that express few obvious targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with epithelial cancers (for example ovarian or other solid tumors) who can provide tumor tissue or may be eligible for future Vδ1 cell‑therapy trials.
Not a fit: Patients with non‑epithelial cancers, those ineligible for cellular immunotherapy, or those unable to travel to participating centers are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new cell‑therapy approach that more effectively treats epithelial cancers that are hard to target with current CAR T cells.
How similar studies have performed: Related γδ T cell and CAR T approaches have shown promising results in lab studies and early clinical work, but using BTNL9‑dependent Vδ1 CAR T cells is a relatively new and not yet proven strategy.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conejo-Garcia, Jose R — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Conejo-Garcia, Jose R
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.