PD-L1's control of cancer cell survival genes
Official title: Regulation of mRNA homeostasis by PD-L1
Funded at St. John's University · NIH-11345815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether the protein PD-L1 helps ovarian and prostate cancer cells keep survival genes active, which could affect how these cancers respond to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. John's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Queens, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $164,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149263-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with ovarian or prostate cancer, especially those whose tumors show PD‑L1 activity, would be the most relevant group for future therapies from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ovarian or prostate cancer or whose tumors lack PD‑L1 expression are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific laboratory project, and it does not offer immediate treatment changes.
What this research studies
This project studies ovarian and prostate cancer cells in the lab to learn how PD-L1 influences anti‑death (anti‑apoptotic) gene messages. Scientists will test whether PD‑L1 raises these gene levels by boosting transcription or by making their mRNA messages more stable. They will look for PD‑L1 binding to gene promoters and changes in acetylation, and also test whether PD‑L1 binds the mRNAs and shifts their location inside cells. Experiments use interferon‑gamma treatment, molecular binding assays, and measurements of RNA levels and localization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to make cancer cells more likely to die or to improve therapies that target PD‑L1.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown PD‑L1 affects immune evasion and has some intracellular roles, but applying PD‑L1 to control mRNA stability of survival genes is a newer, exploratory direction.
Where this research is happening
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St. John's University
Queens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vancurova, Ivana — St. John's University
- Study coordinator: Vancurova, Ivana
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.