Improving the safety and effectiveness of cell therapy for cancer treatment
Official title: Decoupling acute toxicities and antitumor efficacy in adoptive cell therapy
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11076783 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make CAR T cell therapy safer and more effective for cancer patients with solid tumors by using a medication called clofazimine to help reduce side effects like fever and confusion while boosting the treatment's ability to fight tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $593,810 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA288403-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076783 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with solid tumors who are considering or currently undergoing adoptive cell therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with B cell malignancies who are already responding well to existing CAR T cell therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance the safety and effectiveness of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, particularly for patients with solid tumors. The study focuses on reducing harmful side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity, which can occur in a significant number of patients. Researchers will explore the use of a drug called clofazimine to mitigate these side effects while also improving the therapy's ability to target and eliminate tumors. By repurposing an existing medication, the research aims to provide a safer and more effective treatment option for cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective cancer treatments, improving survival rates for patients undergoing cell therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in repurposing existing drugs to enhance cancer therapies, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Yong — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Lu, Yong
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.