New CAR T-Cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Novel CART Cells for Treating AML
This project develops a new type of CAR T-cell therapy to fight acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has become resistant to standard chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11081771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be challenging to treat when it becomes resistant to chemotherapy, leading to high rates of relapse. This project aims to create a new kind of immune cell therapy, called CAR T cells, that can specifically target and destroy AML cells. Unlike previous CAR T-cell approaches for AML that caused severe side effects, this therapy uses special 'nanobodies' to precisely identify and attack only the cancer cells. Early studies in animal models have shown promising results, suggesting this could be a more effective and safer treatment option.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly those whose disease has not responded well to traditional chemotherapy.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of cancer or those whose AML is effectively managed by current treatments may not directly benefit from this specific new therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new therapy could offer a more effective treatment option for patients with AML, especially those whose cancer has become resistant to chemotherapy, potentially leading to better outcomes and fewer side effects.
How similar studies have performed: While CAR T-cell therapies have shown great success in other blood cancers like B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, this specific approach using nanobodies to target CD13 in AML is novel and builds upon lessons learned from prior attempts.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hua, Xianxin — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Hua, Xianxin
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.