Maximizing a cancer immunotherapy that targets sugars on tumor cells
Official title: Maximizing GlyTR pan-cancer immunotherapy by enhancing target density
Funded at Glytr Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11457445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant supports advancing a cancer immunotherapy that uses special sugar-based targets to kill many solid tumors while aiming to spare normal cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Glytr Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Carlos, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,002,331 |
| NIH project number | 4R42CA302415-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors that express tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens targeted by GlyTR therapies and who meet general trial safety criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the necessary TACAs or who are not eligible for the planned IND-enabling studies and basket trial.
What this research studies
This project focuses on GlyTR therapies that use high-avidity binding to tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens to recruit T cells and attack cancer cells. It builds on prior work funded by Cancer Moonshot and moves GlyTR1 toward IND-enabling studies for a phase 1 basket trial, with GlyTR2 CAR-T translation also under consideration. The goal is to achieve strong anti-tumor effects only when tumor cells express sufficient target density, reducing harm to normal tissues. The work includes further optimization, preclinical testing, and translation planning at the NCI and partnering company. Patients with advanced solid tumors that express relevant TACAs could potentially benefit if this approach progresses to clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a powerful, targeted immunotherapy for many solid cancers with potentially lower risk to normal tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Early preclinical results show potent, target-density–dependent killing with favorable safety in models, but clinical outcomes remain to be established in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Glytr Therapeutics, INC.
San Carlos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demetriou, Michael — Glytr Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Demetriou, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
-
A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.
This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.
-
Algorithms to find HLA-E neoantigens for cancer immunotherapy
Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.
-
Immunotherapy for glioblastoma: advancing treatment and understanding
A patient-friendly summary of a grant exploring new immune-based treatments for glioblastoma to improve options for people affected by this brain cancer.
-
How CRISPR-based gene activation could shape immunotherapy responses in clear cell cancers
A research project at Stanford is using CRISPR-based gene activation to understand why some clear cell ovarian and kidney cancers respond to immunotherapy while others do not.
-
Hybrid biomaterial system to boost immunotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis
A new, patient-facing immunotherapy approach uses specialized particles to retrain the immune system to calm RA in adults.
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.