Reprogramming T cells with IL9 signals to attack solid tumors
Synthetic IL9R signaling to rewire T cells for adoptive cell therapy of cancer
This approach gives engineered T cells a new IL9-based signal to help them survive and attack solid tumors in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168917 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team reprograms T cells using a designer cytokine-receptor pair so the cells respond only to a special lab-made signal rather than the body's normal signals. They create a chimeric receptor that couples an orthogonal IL2 receptor to the IL9 receptor signaling chain (called o9R) to change how T cells grow and differentiate. Experiments will test these modified T cells in lab and animal models to see if they function better against solid tumors and reduce the need for toxic conditioning chemotherapy. If the preclinical results are promising, the approach would move toward clinical testing in patients with solid tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with advanced or refractory solid tumors who are eligible for adoptive cell therapy targeting a tumor-specific antigen in a clinical trial setting.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack a suitable targetable antigen or who are not eligible for cellular therapy are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could make adoptive T cell therapy safer and more effective for people with solid tumors by improving T cell survival and reducing the need for harsh preconditioning chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: CAR and TCR cell therapies have succeeded for blood cancers but struggled in solid tumors, and orthogonal cytokine receptor strategies are a newer, mostly preclinical approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kalbasi, Anusha — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Kalbasi, Anusha
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.