NKT cell therapy for B‑cell lymphoma
Official title: Project 1: Immunotherapy of B cell lymphoma with NKT cells
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11178341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers an off‑the‑shelf immune cell treatment using engineered natural killer T (NKT) cells for adults with B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2007 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $327,522 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA126752-19 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with relapsed or refractory B‑cell non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, including patients who have failed prior CD19 CAR‑T therapies, are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are not B‑cell lymphomas, children, or people who are too frail or medically ineligible for cell therapy are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are using natural killer T (NKT) cells that are engineered to carry a CAR targeting CD19 on B‑cell lymphoma cells to directly kill cancer and activate other immune responses. Early patients treated with allogeneic CAR‑NKT cells tolerated the therapy well and some had tumor responses, but the engineered cells did not persist long enough in the blood. To help the cells survive longer, the team added genetic elements designed to reduce recognition and rejection by the patient’s immune system. The work is being tested in a first‑in‑human clinical trial at Baylor College of Medicine to learn about safety, how long the cells persist, and whether responses can be made more durable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a ready‑made cell therapy that kills B‑cell lymphoma cells and lasts longer in the body, helping patients who do not respond to current treatments.
How similar studies have gone: CD19 CAR‑T therapies have produced durable remissions for many B‑cell lymphoma patients and an early phase trial of allogeneic CAR‑NKT cells showed promising responses in a few patients, but the specific genetic strategy to reduce rejection is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Metelitsa, Leonid S — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Metelitsa, Leonid S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunotherapy for B-cell lymphoma using NK T cells
A patient-focused immunotherapy approach using natural killer T cells engineered to target B-cell lymphoma, potentially offering off-the-shelf treatment options.
-
Understanding how immune features predict immunotherapy response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
A study to find genomic and immune markers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that could help predict who benefits from immunotherapies.
-
Understanding how genes affect immune responses in lymphoma treatment
This study is looking at how the immune system interacts with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) to find out which genetic traits might help predict how well patients will respond to immunotherapy, so that treatments can be better tailored for those whose cancer has come back or hasn’t responded to other treatments.
-
Targeting the IL-1R Pathway to Boost Immunotherapy for Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Aims to make CD30 CAR therapies work better for people with ALCL by blocking a immune-evasion pathway.
-
Targeting MALT1 to Strengthen Anti-Lymphoma Immunity and Boost Immunotherapy
Aims to improve treatment for a common type of B-cell lymphoma by blocking a specific protein (MALT1) to enhance the body's immune attack and response to existing therapies.
-
Immune Evasion by HLA-E in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
A researcher is studying how a molecule called HLA-E helps a type of blood cancer (DLBCL) hide from the immune system, with findings that may lead to better treatments.
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.