Investigating a new pathway to treat melanoma and other cancers
Official title: DC-HIL in cancer
Funded at VA North Texas Health Care System · NIH-10950325 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help treat melanoma by understanding how a specific part of the immune system and blood vessels work together, with the hope of creating better treatments for melanoma and possibly other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA North Texas Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2018 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004069-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950325 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients diagnosed with melanoma, particularly those with metastatic disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-melanoma skin cancers or those without any form of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on a newly discovered immune-vascular regulating pathway that can be manipulated to treat melanoma, a serious skin cancer. The team will explore how this pathway affects the immune response and blood vessel formation in melanoma patients. They aim to develop targeted treatments that address a specific carbohydrate component of this pathway and monitor how it changes during the progression of melanoma. The ultimate goal is to enhance the management of metastatic melanoma and potentially improve outcomes for patients with other types of cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for melanoma and potentially other cancers, improving patient survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in manipulating immune-vascular pathways for cancer treatment, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA North Texas Health Care System
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cruz, Ponciano D — VA North Texas Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Cruz, Ponciano D
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.