Overcoming CAR T cell resistance with tumor-targeted IL-12 to boost anti-tumor immunity
Official title: Overcoming CAR T cell resistance by tumor-restricted IL-12 driven anti-tumor immunity
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11624691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to make CAR T cell therapy work better for solid tumors by using tumor-focused IL-12 to boost the body’s attack on cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $147,906 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA300662-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11624691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors such as breast cancer brain metastases, ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis, or prostate cancer with lung/bone metastasis may benefit from future translations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors lack the target antigens or do not respond to immune-based approaches may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores engineering CAR T cells so they produce IL-12 only where the tumor is, which could strengthen the immune attack while reducing systemic toxicity. It tests two approaches: CAR T cells with membrane-bound, antigen-dependent IL-12 and CAR T cells with IL-12 that activates only when T cells are stimulated. The work uses models that mimic breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer spread to study how these strategies affect tumor infiltration, persistence, and activity. If successful, these strategies could expand CAR T cell benefits beyond blood cancers to solid tumors. The study will combine cellular engineering with tumor models to understand how local IL-12 shapes immune responses in the tumor microenvironment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this approach works, patients with solid tumors could experience better CAR T cell therapy responses with fewer systemic side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that localized IL-12 can enhance anti-tumor immunity when paired with CAR T cells, with ongoing research expanding to solid tumors.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, John Kyung — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Lee, John Kyung
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.