How cancer cells respond to stress affects immune protection against tumors

Cancer cell-intrinsic mitochondrial stress responses influence protective immunity

NIH-funded research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11022291

This study is looking at how cancer cells in ovarian tumors respond to stress and how that affects the immune system's ability to fight the cancer, with the hope of finding new ways to help patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR37 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11022291 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of mitochondrial stress responses in cancer cells and how they influence the immune system's ability to fight ovarian cancer. By understanding the unique environment of ovarian tumors, the study aims to uncover how cancer cells adapt to stress and how this affects the infiltration of immune cells that can attack tumors. The researchers will explore the cellular mechanisms involved in these stress responses, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies to enhance anti-tumor immunity in patients. This work is particularly focused on high-grade serous ovarian cancer, a type with a poor prognosis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer who may benefit from enhanced immune responses.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of cancer or those not diagnosed with ovarian cancer may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved immunotherapies that enhance the body's ability to fight ovarian cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding cancer cell stress responses and their impact on immune function, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions cancer cellcancer immunitycancer microenvironmentCancer PatientCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.