Improving ovarian cancer treatment with immunotherapy by targeting PP4
Official title: Targeting PP4 to improve ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11146613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how blocking a protein called PP4 might make immunotherapy work better for women with ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $457,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276047-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, particularly those whose cancer has not responded well to chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those whose ovarian cancer is not resistant to chemotherapy may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Ovarian cancer can be very difficult to treat, especially when it resists chemotherapy. This project explores a new way to make existing immunotherapies more effective for these challenging cases. Researchers believe that by targeting a specific protein called PP4, they can help the body's immune system better recognize and fight ovarian cancer cells. The goal is to understand how PP4 affects the cancer's ability to hide from the immune system and how it influences the success of current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment strategies that improve how well immunotherapy works for women with ovarian cancer, especially those whose cancer has become resistant to chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: The role of PP4 in cancer development and anti-tumor immunity is currently unknown, making this a novel and untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curtis, Marion — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Curtis, Marion
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Next-Generation NK Cell Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
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Targeting PP4 to boost ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
A Mayo Clinic study aims to see if inhibiting PP4 can make chemo-resistant ovarian cancer more responsive to immunotherapy.
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Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy for Resistant High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer with a New Platinum Nanotherapy
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Next-generation engineered NK cell therapy for ovarian cancer
This project offers a new off-the-shelf NK cell treatment designed to attack ovarian cancer, especially disease that is resistant to platinum chemotherapy.
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Investigating a new immunotherapy approach for ovarian cancer
This study is testing a new treatment for advanced ovarian cancer that combines a special immune therapy with a vaccine to help your body fight the cancer better, and it’s looking for patients to see how well it works and if it’s safe.
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Developing a new treatment for ovarian cancer using engineered proteins
This study is testing a new treatment for ovarian cancer that uses a special protein to help the immune system target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, and it's designed for people battling this tough disease.
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.