Improving CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors by recognizing cancer signals

Recognizing the tumor ecosystem: Integrating stromal and cancer antigen signals to achieve precision recognition of solid tumors by CAR T cells

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10987051

This study is working on improving CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors, like those found in organs, by creating special T cells that can better recognize and attack cancer cells while protecting healthy ones, making treatment safer and more effective for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10987051 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors, which has been challenging compared to its success in blood cancers. The team is developing innovative CAR T cells that can recognize and respond to multiple cancer signals from different cells within the tumor environment. By integrating information from various tumor components, these engineered T cells aim to selectively target cancer cells while minimizing damage to normal tissues. This approach involves creating a two-step recognition process where T cells first identify a priming antigen before targeting the cancer cells for destruction.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who have not responded to conventional treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers or those who do not have solid tumors may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and safer CAR T cell therapies for patients with solid tumors.

How similar studies have performed: While CAR T cell therapy has shown success in blood cancers, this approach for solid tumors is novel and has not been extensively tested yet.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.