IL-15 and skin-homing CTCL: a targeted approach to curb skin lesions
Official title: The Role of IL-15 in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma Progression
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11370320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the inflammatory signal IL-15 drives CTCL T cells to settle in the skin and how blocking this pathway might help patients with this skin-limited leukemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $356,850 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266592-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or those at risk of skin-limited disease who may benefit from therapies targeting IL-15 signaling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease does not involve the skin or who do not respond to IL-15–targeted approaches may see no benefit.
What this research studies
CTCL is a difficult-to-treat skin cancer of immune cells. The project uses a mouse model to study how IL-15 signaling makes malignant T cells move to and stay in the skin, causing lesions. By exploring a new signaling cascade, researchers aim to identify potential ways to prevent or slow skin localization and disease progression. The work builds on findings that IL-15 is elevated in CTCL and may drive skin-specific inflammation and tumor growth. If successful, this could point toward new therapeutic strategies that reduce skin involvement and improve quality of life for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially leading to new treatments that limit skin lesions and slow CTCL progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies suggest IL-15–driven signaling contributes to skin-homing of malignant T cells, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mishra, Anjali — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Mishra, Anjali
Related research
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Investigating how Staphylococcus aureus affects skin cancer development
This study is looking at how a common skin bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus might affect the growth of Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), a type of skin cancer, by examining the bacteria found on patients' skin to find new ways to understand and treat the disease.
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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.