Personalized tumor vaccine plus immune blockers for glioblastoma
Official title: Project 1: Targeting immunotherapy-induced resistance with DC vaccination and PD-1/CSF-1R inhibition
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11377156 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether combining a patient's own tumor‑based vaccine with two immune‑blocking drugs can help people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $8,612 |
| NIH project number | 3P50CA211015-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377156 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with glioblastoma who can provide tumor tissue for a personalized vaccine and are medically able to receive immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
People with other brain tumor types, active severe autoimmune disease, or who cannot provide tumor tissue or tolerate immunotherapy are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are combining an autologous tumor‑lysate‑pulsed dendritic cell vaccine with PD‑1 antibody therapy and a CSF‑1R inhibitor to boost immune attack on brain tumors. Interim clinical work showed the vaccine plus PD‑1 brings T cells into glioblastoma but also recruits immunosuppressive myeloid cells that limit benefit. In animal models, adding a CSF‑1R inhibitor reduced those suppressive cells and significantly extended survival. The team aims to translate these findings toward approaches that can be tested in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could strengthen immune responses in the brain and extend survival for people with glioblastoma.
How similar studies have gone: Dendritic cell vaccines and PD‑1 blockers have shown promise in early trials but have had limited success alone, while adding CSF‑1R inhibitors improved outcomes in animal studies and remains a novel approach for patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prins, Robert M — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Prins, Robert M
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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.