Immune suppression in MYCN-driven neuroblastoma
Official title: Mechanisms of lmmunosuppression in MYCN-driven Neuroblastoma
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11238875 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why aggressive, MYCN-driven neuroblastoma in children weakens the immune system and how that might be reversed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,462 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS140967-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238875 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with high-risk neuroblastoma, especially tumors with MYCN amplification, would be the most likely candidates for related clinical trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low-risk neuroblastoma or tumors that do not have elevated MYCN activity are unlikely to benefit directly from findings focused on MYCN-driven mechanisms.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying why tumors with high MYCN activity attract certain immune cells that then shut down anti-tumor responses. They combine lab models — especially a zebrafish model that mimics childhood neuroblastoma — with analyses of human tumor samples to follow how a protein called CKLF1 draws CD4+ immune cells into the tumor. By removing or blocking CKLF1 in models they aim to see whether the tumor immune environment becomes more active and less able to grow or spread. The goal is to identify targets that could be developed into treatments to help the immune system fight high-risk neuroblastoma in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that restore immune attack and improve outcomes for children with high-risk, MYCN-driven neuroblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have supported links between MYCN, chemokine signaling, and immune suppression, but clinical treatments targeting this pathway in children are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Hui — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Feng, Hui
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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.