Reducing side effects while keeping the cancer‑killing power of CAR T‑cell therapy
Decoupling acute toxicities and antitumor efficacy in adoptive cell therapy
This project looks at whether the approved drug clofazimine can lower dangerous immune side effects and help CAR T‑cell therapy work better for people with cancers treated by adoptive cell therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323070 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are considering or receiving CAR T‑cell therapy, this project tests whether adding clofazimine, an FDA‑approved anti‑inflammatory drug, can both reduce life‑threatening immune reactions and help immune cells prevent tumor relapse. Researchers will study how clofazimine reduces macrophage‑produced reactive oxygen species linked to cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity (ICANS). They will also examine whether clofazimine stimulates immune signaling (dsRNA/dsDNA pathways) in macrophages that could boost tumor killing and limit antigen escape. The work uses laboratory and translational models designed to be relevant to human CAR‑T treatments with the goal of repurposing a known drug to make therapy safer and more effective.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who are receiving or planned to receive CAR T‑cell or other adoptive cell therapies and who are at risk for CRS/ICANS or tumor antigen escape.
Not a fit: People whose cancers are not treated with adoptive cell therapies or who are ineligible for CAR T‑cell treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower the risk of severe CRS and ICANS and reduce tumor relapse after CAR T‑cell therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Anti‑inflammatory treatments like tocilizumab and steroids have helped control CRS, but using clofazimine to both limit CRS/ICANS and prevent antigen escape is a novel strategy with little prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Yong — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Lu, Yong
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.