Investigating how IL-6 affects resistance to cancer treatment in lung cancer patients
Official title: The role of IL6-induced LAG3 as a resistance mechanism to PD1 blockade in NSCLC patients
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10911335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called IL-6 affects the success of cancer treatments for patients with non-small cell lung cancer by making it harder for the immune system to fight the cancer, and it hopes to find new ways to improve these treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $275,561 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA259342-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who are receiving or have received anti-PD-1 therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage lung cancer or those who have not undergone anti-PD-1 therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the protein IL-6 contributes to resistance against anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It aims to explore the mechanism by which IL-6 induces the expression of LAG3, a protein that suppresses T cell activation, leading to reduced effectiveness of cancer treatments. The study will involve analyzing blood samples from patients to assess IL-6 levels and their relationship with T cell function. If successful, this research could pave the way for new treatment strategies that combine IL-6 inhibition with existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for lung cancer patients who currently do not respond well to anti-PD-1 therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting immune checkpoint pathways can enhance cancer treatment efficacy, suggesting that this approach may yield promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Somasundaram, Ashwin — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Somasundaram, Ashwin
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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.