Making melanoma and kidney cancer cell death trigger stronger immune responses
Official title: Project III: Engineering immunogenic cell death in melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11176082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to reprogram how melanoma and renal cell carcinoma cells die so their death sparks a bigger immune attack and helps more patients benefit from immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $442,500 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274492-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with melanoma or renal cell carcinoma—especially those with advanced disease or who have had limited response to checkpoint inhibitors—would be the most relevant candidates for eventual trials based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers other than melanoma or kidney cancer, or those who are not eligible for immunotherapy or related clinical trials, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
The team is working on ways to make tumor cells die in inflammatory, immune-stimulating ways rather than quietly, by manipulating cell-death pathways such as necroptosis, pyroptosis, and a caspase-independent form linked to mitochondrial DNA release. Researchers will use molecular engineering and laboratory models to turn on these pro-inflammatory death programs and study the resulting immune activation. The work focuses on melanoma and renal cell carcinoma and examines how these approaches interact with existing immune checkpoint therapies. Findings will guide whether these strategies could move into early clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make immunotherapy work for a larger share of people with melanoma or kidney cancer and produce longer-lasting remissions.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies show that forcing inflammatory forms of tumor cell death can boost anti-tumor immunity, but translating these approaches into safe, effective human treatments is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
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Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheng, Emily H — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Cheng, Emily H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Engineering immunogenic cell death to boost melanoma and kidney cancer therapy
This grant supports research aimed at making melanoma and kidney cancer cells die in a way that triggers a stronger immune response in patients.
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Creating new ways to trigger immune responses in melanoma and kidney cancer.
This study is looking at new ways to help people with melanoma and kidney cancer by using special treatments that boost the immune system, which might lead to better and longer-lasting results from their current therapies.
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Prognostic test to predict metastasis in clear cell kidney cancer
A new 12-marker biomarker test for people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma may help doctors predict which patients are at higher risk of metastasis.
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Defining metabolic targets in kidney cancer for new treatments
A cancer-focused project is exploring how kidney cancer uses metabolism so doctors can find new, targeted ways to treat it.
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.