Keeping cancer-fighting T cells strong
Sustaining antitumor effector CD8+ T cells for cancer therapy
This project tries to help CD8+ T cells (a type of immune cell) stay strong and active so they can better fight advanced cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367414 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the glutathione (GSH)–Gpx4 metabolic pathway and the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) control CD8+ T cell survival and function in tumors. They plan to bioengineer effector T cells to conditionally increase Gclc/Gpx4 while blocking A2AR to boost metabolic fitness. Laboratory experiments and animal models will test whether these modified T cells persist longer and kill tumor cells more effectively. The findings are intended to inform and improve adoptive cell transfer therapies and guide future clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced or metastatic cancers who are candidates for adoptive T cell therapies would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancers, those not eligible for adoptive cell transfer, or whose tumors do not respond to T cell–based approaches are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make adoptive T cell therapies last longer and be more effective against advanced cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Adoptive T cell therapies like CAR-T and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have helped some patients, and metabolic boosting or A2AR-blocking approaches show promise in preclinical and early clinical work, but this specific combination remains largely preclinical.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Bin — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Bin
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.