Making melanoma tumors more visible to the immune system by targeting tumor mitochondria
Targeting mitochondrial vulnerabilities to drive intrinsic melanoma immunogenicity
The team is trying to help the immune system better recognize and attack melanoma tumors by blocking a key mitochondrial complex in cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11363313 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work will look at how blocking a part of melanoma cell mitochondria changes the tumor's metabolism and boosts proteins that help the immune system spot cancer. Researchers will use tumor models and analyze tumor proteins and metabolites, while tracking the types of immune cells (like CD8 and NKT cells) that enter the tumor. The goal is to understand the steps that increase antigen presentation and immune activation so new treatments or combinations can be developed for patients with advanced melanoma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma, especially those who have not responded to current immunotherapies, would be the most likely future candidates for therapies stemming from this work.
Not a fit: People without melanoma, those with early-stage disease well controlled by existing treatments, or patients whose tumors do not rely on the targeted mitochondrial pathway may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new therapies that make immunotherapy work better for patients with advanced or treatment-resistant melanoma.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical findings, including the team's preliminary data showing that loss of a complex I subunit triggered strong anti-tumor immunity, support this idea, but it remains a relatively new approach not yet tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liang, Jiaxin — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Liang, Jiaxin
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.