How low oxygen in tumors changes immune T cells
Dissecting the role of hypoxia in T cell differentiation in cancer
This work looks at whether low-oxygen areas inside tumors make patients' T cells weak and less able to fight cancers like melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249210 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how low-oxygen (hypoxic) conditions inside tumors push T cells into a dysfunctional, exhausted state. They will use laboratory models, analyses of tumor samples, and molecular experiments to trace the steps that cause metabolic problems in T cells. The team will compare features of more-oxidative, hypoxic tumors with patient responses to therapies such as anti-PD-1. Their goal is to find molecular points to block or reverse exhaustion so immunotherapies work better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors (for example melanoma) who can provide tumor biopsy samples or enroll in related clinical studies at the research center.
Not a fit: Patients with non-solid tumors (blood cancers) or those unable to undergo biopsy or travel for sample collection may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help improve responses to immunotherapies by preventing or reversing T cell exhaustion in hypoxic tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked hypoxic tumors and T cell exhaustion and shown that hypoxia correlates with poorer anti-PD-1 responses, but approaches that directly reverse hypoxia-driven exhaustion remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgoffe, Greg M. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Delgoffe, Greg M.
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.