Investigating a pathway to improve melanoma therapy
The CD93 pathway and melanoma therapy
This study is looking at how a specific pathway in melanoma tumors affects blood vessels, and it aims to find ways to improve the delivery of immune cells that help fight cancer, which could make current treatments work better for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-10993137 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the CD93 pathway affects blood vessel function in melanoma tumors, which can limit the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The study aims to explore how disrupting this pathway can normalize tumor blood vessels, allowing for better infiltration of immune cells that fight cancer. By examining tumor tissues and using mouse models, the researchers hope to identify mechanisms that contribute to treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes with existing therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with late-stage melanoma who have not benefited from existing immune checkpoint therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage melanoma or those who have not undergone immunotherapy may not receive benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the effectiveness of melanoma immunotherapy for patients who currently do not respond to treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using vascular normalization to improve cancer immunotherapy, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Yuwen — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Yuwen
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.