Implantable microdevice that tests cancer drugs inside T‑cell lymphoma tumors
Evaluation of an implantable microdevice for rapid cancer drug screening directly in T cell lymphoma patients
A tiny implant will be placed into a T‑cell lymphoma tumor to locally deliver many cancer drugs and see which ones kill tumor cells without giving full systemic doses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11046140 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have a small microdevice inserted into an accessible tumor that releases up to 20 different drugs into separate tiny regions of the tumor. The device stays in place for about 72 hours and is removed with a standard skin biopsy so doctors can examine the nearby tissue. Lab tests, including immunohistochemistry, are used to see which drugs caused cancer cell death while the tumor was in its normal environment. The approach aims to find the most promising medicines for your tumor while avoiding full‑dose side effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced cutaneous or peripheral T‑cell lymphoma who have accessible skin or superficial tumors and can undergo a small biopsy procedure would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without accessible tumors, those who cannot undergo biopsy for medical reasons, or those needing immediate full systemic therapy may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help identify which drugs are most likely to work for an individual’s T‑cell lymphoma without exposing them to the side effects of systemic treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Related implantable microdevice approaches have shown promise in predicting drug responses in other solid tumors, but applying this method specifically to T‑cell lymphomas is new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larocca, Cecilia — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Larocca, Cecilia
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.