Improving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia with targeted radiation and immune therapy
Official title: Myeloid cell-selective, oligonucleotide-based STAT3 inhibition combined with total marrow and lymphoid irradiation for immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11121888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores a new way to treat acute myeloid leukemia that has been difficult to cure, by combining a special type of radiation with a targeted immune therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $715,641 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284593-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is focused on patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has not responded well to standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of leukemia or those whose AML responds well to current therapies may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
For patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has not responded to previous treatments, long-term outcomes have been challenging. This approach uses a precise radiation method called total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) to deliver high doses to leukemia cells while protecting healthy tissues. Researchers are combining TMLI with a new therapy that targets a specific protein called STAT3, which helps cancer cells resist radiation and grow. The goal is to make the radiation more effective and prevent the cancer from returning by boosting the body's immune response against leukemia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve survival rates and reduce relapses for patients with difficult-to-treat acute myeloid leukemia.
How similar studies have gone: While TMLI has shown improved survival rates in previous applications, the combination with STAT3 inhibition is a novel strategy to overcome radiation resistance and prevent relapse.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kortylewski, Marcin — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Kortylewski, Marcin
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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.