Improving immune response against tumors by enhancing cell metabolism

Enhancing mitochondrial metabolism to improve anti-tumor CD8 immune response

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · NIH-11039924

This study is looking at ways to help immune cells, called CD8 T cells, work better against tumors in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by improving their energy use, which could make CAR-T cell therapy more effective and help prevent relapses after treatment.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11039924 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the metabolism of immune cells, specifically CD8 T cells, to improve their ability to fight tumors, particularly in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The approach involves manipulating mitochondrial function to boost the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy, which is a treatment for certain blood cancers. By understanding how metabolism affects immune cell function, the researchers aim to develop strategies that could lead to better patient outcomes and reduce the rate of relapse after treatment. The study will involve laboratory experiments and potentially clinical applications to assess the impact of these metabolic changes on immune responses.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are considering or have undergone CAR-T cell therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of cancers or those who are not eligible for CAR-T therapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, reducing the likelihood of cancer relapse after CAR-T therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing immune responses through metabolic manipulation, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: anti-cancer immunotherapy, anticancer immunotherapy, cancer cell, cancer immunotherapy, Cancer Model

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.