Improving T‑cell immunotherapy by targeting tumor metabolism

Exploiting tumor metabolism to optimize T cell therapy

NIH-funded research Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11178624

This work sees if changing how lymphoma tumors use energy can help T‑cell immunotherapy work better for adults with diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11178624 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers at Weill Cornell will study how tumor metabolism affects T‑cell responses in diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, focusing on the aggressive MCD subtype. They will use laboratory models, imaging tools, and experiments that change tumor glycolysis to observe effects on the tumor microenvironment and immune cells. Much of the work uses animal tumor models and advanced imaging to track tumor growth, metastasis, and anti‑tumor immune activity during immunotherapy. The team aims to identify molecular mechanisms of immune evasion and find approaches that could make T‑cell therapies more effective.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21+) with diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, especially those with relapsed, refractory, or the aggressive MCD subtype, would be most relevant to this research.

Not a fit: People without DLBCL, those whose lymphoma responds well to standard treatments, or patients with unrelated cancers are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to strategies that make T‑cell immunotherapies more effective for people with therapy‑resistant DLBCL.

How similar studies have performed: CAR T‑cell therapies have helped some patients with B‑cell lymphomas, but combining immunotherapy with tumor metabolic targeting is largely experimental with promising preclinical results.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.