Improving immune responses against colorectal cancer through targeted therapy
Official title: Targeting immunoproteasome-mediated antigen presentation in colorectal cancer immunotherapy
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11009571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to help your immune system better spot and fight colorectal cancer by improving how it recognizes cancer cells, especially for those who haven't had success with current treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $501,827 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA260274-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who have not responded to standard immunotherapy treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage colorectal cancer or those who have not yet undergone immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and attack colorectal cancer cells by targeting the mechanisms that tumors use to evade immune detection. It investigates how tumor-associated antigens are presented to immune cells and aims to improve this process using innovative therapies. By understanding and manipulating the antigen presentation machinery, the research seeks to boost the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies, particularly for patients who have not responded well to current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for colorectal cancer patients, potentially improving their survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in enhancing immune responses through targeted therapies, indicating that this approach could yield significant advancements in colorectal cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Xinna — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Xinna
Related research
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-
Targeted nanoparticles combining chemotherapy and immune stimulation for advanced colon cancer
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Aims to create tiny antibody fragments that target ST2 to help diagnose and treat colorectal cancer, potentially helping patients whose disease has spread.
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Helping the immune system spot and attack colorectal cancer by targeting the immunoproteasome
This project works to make colorectal cancers easier for the immune system to recognize and attack by improving how tumor cells display protein fragments to immune cells.
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This study is testing a new treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer that uses tiny particles to help your immune system better recognize and fight tumors, especially if your cancer hasn't responded to other therapies.
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Targeting a specific immune pathway to improve treatment for colorectal cancer
This study is looking at a specific immune pathway to see if it can make cancer treatments work better for people with colorectal cancer, and it may involve patients trying out new therapies that could improve their results.
-
Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
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.