How MYCN gene changes make neuroblastoma hide from the immune system
Official title: MYCN drives a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment in neuroblastoma.
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11314587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether MYCN-driven changes in tumor fats and T cell metabolism explain why high-risk neuroblastoma in children resists immune attacks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $187,584 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA300631-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with high-risk neuroblastoma that is MYCN-amplified, or families willing to provide tumor samples or consider future trials driven by these findings, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not have MYCN amplification or who have other unrelated cancers are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific work.
What this research studies
This project studies how the MYCN oncogene changes tumor and T cell metabolism to create a fatty, immune-suppressing tumor environment in high-risk neuroblastoma. Scientists will work with cancer cells and immune T cells, measuring lipid production and metabolic pathways in the lab and in model systems to trace how MYCN causes T cell dysfunction. The team will map the molecular steps of MYCN-driven de novo lipogenesis and its effects on immune cells. Findings are intended to point to ways immunotherapies could be improved for children with MYCN-amplified tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost immune responses and improve outcomes for children with MYCN-amplified high-risk neuroblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show MYCN tumors are immunosuppressive and metabolic targeting has shown promise preclinically, but directly linking MYCN-driven lipid production to T cell failure is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barbieri, Eveline — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Barbieri, Eveline
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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.