Improving immunotherapy for childhood neuroblastoma
Leveraging biological insights to enhance immunotherapies
Boosting and broadening immunotherapy so more children with neuroblastoma can be cured with fewer long-term side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310015 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child has neuroblastoma, researchers are working to make immunotherapy work better by combining antibody treatments and CAR T cells. They are studying tumor markers like GD2 and B7‑H3 and testing ways to raise those markers or strengthen immune cells so cancer cells are easier to find and kill. The work includes lab experiments, analysis of patient tumor samples, and efforts to move promising approaches into early clinical testing. The overall aim is to increase cure rates while reducing the need for harsh chemotherapy and its lasting harms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with neuroblastoma, especially those with high-risk or relapsed disease, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Children whose tumors do not express the targeted markers or who have unrelated cancers may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could cure more children with neuroblastoma and reduce debilitating long-term effects from treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Anti‑GD2 antibodies are already part of standard care for neuroblastoma and early CAR T‑cell work shows promise, but combining approaches to boost target expression is a newer strategy.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Majzner, Robbie G. — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Majzner, Robbie G.
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.