Retrovirus-delivered RLI gene therapy to boost immune attack on glioblastoma
Retroviral RLI immunomodulatory gene therapy for glioblastoma
This treatment uses a safe virus to deliver a protein called RLI directly into brain tumors to help a patient's immune cells better recognize and kill glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164680 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This approach injects a replicating retrovirus into the tumor to carry a gene that makes RLI, an interleukin-15 fusion protein that strengthens CD8+ and CD4+ naïve and memory T cells. The therapy is given directly inside the brain tumor to concentrate the immune boost where it's needed and reduce systemic side effects. Researchers have combined the viral RLI delivery with other immune-modulating strategies to try to overcome immune suppression in glioblastoma. Early experiments in immune-competent mice with brain tumors showed longer survival, and the team plans to build on those results toward approaches that could be used in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with glioblastoma who have tumors accessible for intratumoral delivery and who meet safety criteria for receiving a localized viral gene therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with tumors that are not safely reachable for direct injection, widespread metastatic disease, severe immune deficiencies, or certain medical conditions may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reinvigorate a patient's immune system to shrink tumors and extend survival without the toxicity of widespread immune-activating drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Other viral immunotherapies for glioblastoma have triggered immune responses but largely did not improve survival in human trials, while this RLI-expressing retrovirus showed survival benefit in multiple mouse models.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aghi, Manish — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Aghi, Manish
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.