How the immune signal IL-17 helps tumors grow and resist treatment
IL-17-driven mechanisms for tumor progression and resistance to therapies
The team is exploring ways to block IL-17 signals to help people with certain solid tumors respond better to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143079 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a solid tumor, this work looks at how a protein called IL-17 makes tumor cells and the surrounding tissue help the cancer survive treatment. The team uses mouse models and analysis of human tumor samples to study an IL-17-driven EGFR–ERK5 signaling pathway and a stem-like Lrig1+ tumor cell population that becomes resistant to chemotherapy and is enriched after anti-PD1 therapy. They also examine how IL-17 acting in tumor and stromal/immune cells creates an immune-suppressive environment. The goal is to identify points in these pathways that could be targeted to improve existing cancer treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors—especially squamous cell carcinomas—whose cancers show signs of high IL-17 activity or who have become resistant to chemotherapy or anti-PD1 immunotherapy.
Not a fit: People with cancers not driven by IL-17 signaling (or patients with blood cancers where IL-17 is not relevant) are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new approaches that make chemotherapy and immunotherapy work better for people with IL-17–driven solid tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked high IL-17 levels to worse outcomes and early lab work supports IL-17’s role in tumor-promoting pathways, but translating these specific EGFR–ERK5 and Lrig1+ cell findings into treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stappenbeck, Thaddeus S — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Stappenbeck, Thaddeus S
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.