How high glucose levels affect T cell therapies for cancer
Official title: Functional consequences of high glucose culture on adoptive T cell therapies for cancer
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11069146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how high sugar levels in the body might affect special immune cells called T cells that are used in cancer treatments, with the goal of making these treatments work better for patients with solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $54,538 |
| NIH project number | 1F30CA298391-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11069146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing or considering adoptive T cell therapy for solid tumors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hematological malignancies may not benefit directly from this research as it focuses on solid tumors.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of high glucose levels on T cells used in cancer treatments, specifically focusing on adoptive cell therapy (ACT). ACT involves taking T cells from a patient, modifying them to better fight cancer, and then reintroducing them into the patient. The study examines how the high glucose environment during the T cell expansion process affects their ability to respond to cancer cells. By understanding these effects, the research aims to improve the effectiveness of T cell therapies for solid tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the effectiveness of T cell therapies, leading to better outcomes for cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that optimizing the culture conditions for T cells can improve their functionality, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bumgarner, Hannah — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bumgarner, Hannah
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.