Reprogramming exhausted T cells to boost cancer immunotherapy
EPIGENETIC REPROGRAMMING OF T CELL EXHAUSTION TO ENHANCE TUMOR IMMUNOTHERAPY
The team is trying to reset exhausted T cells so immunotherapy works better for adults with acute myeloid leukemia and related myeloid cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314482 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, researchers will study how signals from myeloid tumors make T cells become ‘exhausted’ and stop fighting cancer. They will examine patient blood and tumor samples and use methods like ATAC-seq to map epigenetic changes that drive T cell dysfunction. The team will test whether changing an epigenetic regulator called ASXL1 and blocking effects of a molecule called S100A9 can keep T cells active, using mouse models and human T cells grown in the lab. These steps aim to identify strategies that could help CAR T cells and other immunotherapies work better against AML.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults (21+) with acute myeloid leukemia or related myeloid malignancies, particularly those considering or receiving immunotherapy.
Not a fit: People without myeloid cancers, children, or patients who are not eligible for immunotherapy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make CAR T and other immunotherapies more effective against AML by preventing T cell exhaustion.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T therapy has cured some B-cell leukemias, but strategies to overcome T cell exhaustion in AML remain largely experimental with promising lab data but not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Youngblood, Benjamin Alan — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Youngblood, Benjamin Alan
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.