MRI method to see immune cells inside tumors
MRI of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using MRI-cytometry
This project tries a new MRI technique that can spot immune cells entering tumors to help people getting cancer immunotherapy know sooner whether treatment is working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146546 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are developing an MRI approach called MRI-cytometry that uses differences in cell size to distinguish small immune cells from larger cancer cells without injections or labels. They will refine the scanning method, validate it in lab and preclinical models, and move toward clinical imaging to see if the signal matches immune cell infiltration in tumors. The goal is to identify early signs that immune-checkpoint blockade is working so doctors can avoid mistaking immune-related swelling for tumor growth. This work focuses on cancers treated with immunotherapy and would involve scans and comparisons with tissue or other clinical measures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors who are receiving or about to start immune-checkpoint blockade immunotherapy and can undergo MRI scans at the study site.
Not a fit: Patients not receiving immunotherapy, those with cancers that cannot be imaged well by MRI, or patients with certain blood cancers may not benefit from this MRI-based approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let patients and doctors tell earlier whether immunotherapy is helping and avoid unnecessary treatment changes or delays.
How similar studies have performed: Other imaging approaches using labeled cells have shown promise but require contrast agents, while this cell-size, label-free MRI method is novel with promising preclinical data but limited clinical proof so far.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Junzhong — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Xu, Junzhong
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.