Off-the-shelf HLA-matched vaccine for advanced metastatic prostate cancer
Official title: An Off-the-Shelf tumor cell vaccine with HLA-matching alleles for personalized treatment of advanced metastatic prostate cancer.
Funded at Briacell Therapeutics Corp · NIH-11184668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops an off-the-shelf vaccine matched to patients' HLA types to boost immune responses against advanced metastatic prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Briacell Therapeutics Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,106,781 |
| NIH project number | 2R44CA281555-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer whose HLA types can be matched to one of the available vaccine cell lines and who meet the trial's enrollment criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose HLA types do not match any available vaccine lines or those with very rapidly progressing disease or incompatible medical conditions may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would receive a pre-made whole tumor cell vaccine chosen to match your HLA alleles so it better fits your immune system. The vaccine cells are designed to present cancer antigens and to activate immune cells by secreting GM-CSF, aiming to jumpstart an anti-tumor response. Instead of making a custom vaccine from your own tumor, doctors would match you to a pre-made vaccine line with compatible HLA types to make treatment faster and less costly. Early results with a related Bria-IMT product showed tumor regressions in some patients, and this program will test safety, immune responses, and clinical effects in men with advanced prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a more accessible, HLA-tailored vaccine option that strengthens anti-tumor immunity and may improve outcomes for some men with metastatic prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Related whole-cell vaccines, including the Bria-IMT product, have produced tumor regressions in small trials—particularly when patients matched at HLA alleles—while the off-the-shelf HLA-matching strategy is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Briacell Therapeutics Corp
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, William Valentine — Briacell Therapeutics Corp
- Study coordinator: Williams, William Valentine
Related research
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Understanding what drives lethal metastatic prostate cancer in men
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Off-the-shelf tumor cell vaccine tailored to your tumor’s HLA type for advanced prostate cancer
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ASH1L’s role in metastatic prostate cancer and its immune environment
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Molecular drivers of lineage changes and new therapies for metastatic prostate cancer
A multi-year study at a major university will explore how metastatic prostate cancer changes its cell type and how to target those changes to help patients.
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How gut bacteria may affect prostate cancer therapy and resistance
A new study looks at how gut bacteria make compounds that influence prostate cancer treatments and may drive resistance to therapy.
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.