Improving chemotherapy by reducing drug accumulation in healthy tissues

Reducing Off-Target Accumulation of Chemotherapeutic Nanomedicines

NIH-funded research University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11050379

This study is looking at a new way to make chemotherapy work better and cause fewer side effects by using a natural immune response, which could help cancer patients get more effective treatment while protecting their healthy tissues.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado Denver NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11050379 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates a new method to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness while minimizing side effects. It focuses on using a natural immune response to limit the accumulation of chemotherapy drugs in healthy tissues, allowing more of the drug to target tumors. The approach involves the use of a specific molecule, IFN-λ, which has shown promise in preclinical models to reduce toxicity and improve survival rates in tumor-bearing mice. By optimizing the delivery and timing of this treatment, the research aims to create a safer and more effective chemotherapy regimen for cancer patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who are at risk of experiencing significant side effects from their treatment.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving chemotherapy or those with non-cancerous conditions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to chemotherapy treatments that are more effective against tumors while causing fewer adverse effects in healthy tissues.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using immune responses to enhance drug delivery and reduce side effects, indicating that this approach has potential.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, 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.
Conditions anti-cancerAnti-Cancer Agentsanti-cancer druganti-cancer therapy
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.