New medicines for glioblastoma that target immune evasion

Small molecule inhibitors of Slit2/Robo signaling as novel therapeutics for glioblastoma

NIH-funded research Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11134670

This research explores new small molecule medicines to improve treatments for glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11134670 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Glioblastoma is a challenging brain cancer where current treatments often don't lead to long-term survival. While immunotherapy shows promise, glioblastoma creates an environment that can block the immune system from fighting the tumor effectively. This project focuses on a specific pathway called SLIT2/ROBO, which helps the tumor hide from the immune system and affects blood vessel formation. Researchers are developing new small molecule drugs to block this pathway, aiming to make existing chemotherapy and immunotherapy more effective.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is ultimately intended to benefit patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, particularly those whose tumors exhibit immune evasion mechanisms.

Not a fit: Patients without glioblastoma or those whose tumors do not rely on the SLIT2/ROBO pathway may not directly benefit from this specific approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective small molecule treatments that improve the outcomes for patients with glioblastoma.

How similar studies have performed: While targeting SLIT2/ROBO with biologics has shown promise in mouse models, this project is novel in developing small molecule inhibitors for glioblastoma, with no active clinical trials yet for this specific strategy.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.