Improving T cell movement into tumors for cancer treatment
Official title: Aak1 to increase infiltration of adoptively transferred cells into solid tumors
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11026343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help T cells better reach and fight solid tumors by exploring a protein called Aak1, which plays a role in T cell movement, to see if changing it can improve cancer treatments like CAR-T.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | February 16, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $457,635 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276005-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11026343 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who are undergoing or considering adoptive cell therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-solid tumors or those not eligible for adoptive cell therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the ability of T cells to infiltrate solid tumors, which is a significant challenge in therapies like CAR-T. The team aims to investigate a specific protein, Aak1, that regulates T cell movement into tumors. By modifying Aak1, they will assess its impact on T cell trafficking and therapeutic effectiveness in preclinical models. The study will also explore how Aak1 affects the internalization of a key receptor involved in T cell migration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments by improving the efficacy of adoptive cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in enhancing T cell infiltration in tumors, but this specific approach targeting Aak1 is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogers, Laura Marie — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Rogers, Laura Marie
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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.