Personalized tumor targets to help the immune system fight CLL
Personal tumor neoantigens for immunity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia
['FUNDING_R01'] · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · NIH-11285204
Researchers are developing personalized tumor markers to help the immune systems of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) recognize and attack their cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DANA-FARBER CANCER INST (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11285204 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, doctors would sequence your leukemia cells and normal cells to find unique tumor changes, then use new lab tests to confirm which of those changes appear on the cancer cell surface. The team aims to identify so-called neoantigens even in CLL, which usually has few mutations, by looking at the genome and RNA and validating peptide-MHC interactions. Those validated targets could be used to design personalized immune approaches such as vaccines or cell therapies tailored to your tumor. The work is being done at Dana-Farber and is meant to open new treatment options for people with CLL.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who can provide tumor or blood samples and are willing to take part in personalized immunotherapy research and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack identifiable neoantigens, who cannot provide necessary samples, or who are too frail for immune-based interventions may not receive benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to personalized vaccines or immune therapies that help the body recognize and control CLL, potentially improving remission and long-term disease control.
How similar studies have performed: Neoantigen-targeting approaches have shown promising results in high-mutation cancers like melanoma and glioblastoma, but applying them to low-mutation cancers such as CLL is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- DANA-FARBER CANCER INST — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WU, CATHERINE JU-YING — DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- Study coordinator: WU, CATHERINE JU-YING
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 below.