Next-generation engineered NK cell therapy for ovarian cancer
Official title: Next-Generation Engineered NK Cell Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11159405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a new off-the-shelf NK cell treatment designed to attack ovarian cancer, especially disease that is resistant to platinum chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $273,109 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA281701-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with recurrent or platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have tumors expressing TROP2 and who are medically able to receive cell therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People whose tumors do not express TROP2 or who have health conditions that make receiving cell therapy unsafe are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will use natural killer (NK) cells from cord blood and genetically modify them to recognize a protein called TROP2 found on many ovarian cancers. They will add molecular changes to make the NK cells stronger and longer-lasting, including signals that help them survive and blocks that prevent the tumor from turning them off. The team builds on earlier work showing safety of cord blood–derived CAR-NK cells in blood cancers and aims to adapt and optimize that approach for ovarian tumors. Much of the work will move these engineered NK cells toward use in patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become an off-the-shelf immune cell therapy that better controls ovarian cancers that no longer respond to standard treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Related cord blood–derived CAR-NK products have shown safety and activity in blood cancers, but NK-based therapies for solid tumors like ovarian cancer remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rezvani, Katy — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Rezvani, Katy
Related research
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Next-Generation NK Cell Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
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Targeting PP4 to boost ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
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Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy for Resistant High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer with a New Platinum Nanotherapy
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Improving ovarian cancer treatment with immunotherapy by targeting PP4
This project looks at how blocking a protein called PP4 might make immunotherapy work better for women with ovarian cancer.
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This study is testing a new treatment for advanced ovarian cancer that combines a special immune therapy with a vaccine to help your body fight the cancer better, and it’s looking for patients to see how well it works and if it’s safe.
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Developing a new treatment for ovarian cancer using engineered proteins
This study is testing a new treatment for ovarian cancer that uses a special protein to help the immune system target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, and it's designed for people battling this tough disease.
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.