Improving targeted immunotherapy for cancer treatment
Cellular engineering to improve the efficacy and specificity of targeted immunotherapy
This study is working on improving a type of cancer treatment called adoptive cell therapy, which uses special immune cells to better target and attack solid tumors while keeping side effects low, so patients can have a safer and more effective option for their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11055346 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing adoptive cell therapy (ACT) to treat solid tumors more effectively. It aims to engineer T cell receptors (TCRs) that can specifically target tumor-associated proteins while minimizing toxicity. By using advanced techniques like phage and yeast display, the project seeks to create TCRs with higher affinity for their targets, addressing challenges such as low affinity and unwanted cross-reactivity. Patients may benefit from a more effective and safer immunotherapy option for solid tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who have not responded to conventional therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with hematological malignancies may not benefit from this research as it primarily focuses on solid tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and safer immunotherapy treatments for patients with solid tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in engineering TCRs for improved targeting in cancer therapy, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abdelfattah, Nouran Saied — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Abdelfattah, Nouran Saied
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.