SOCS1's role in uveal melanoma response to immunotherapy
Official title: SOCS1 is a crucial regulator for uveal melanoma response to immunotherapy
Funded at University of Texas El Paso · NIH-11169852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether levels of a protein called SOCS1 can predict and help improve immunotherapy response for people with uveal melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $153,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM145559-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with uveal melanoma, especially those with metastatic disease or who are being treated with or considered for immune checkpoint inhibitors, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without uveal melanoma or those with early localized disease not receiving systemic immunotherapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze tumor samples from people with uveal melanoma who received immune checkpoint drugs, measuring SOCS1, MHC molecule levels, and immune cell presence. They will compare samples from patients who responded to treatment versus those who did not and study how changing SOCS1 affects how visible tumor cells are to the immune system using laboratory models. The team aims to link SOCS1 levels to patient survival and treatment response and to identify whether boosting SOCS1 or related pathways could make immunotherapy work better for UM patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests that predict who will benefit from immunotherapy and new ways to boost immunotherapy for uveal melanoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Immune checkpoint drugs have helped cutaneous melanoma but have shown little benefit in uveal melanoma, and using SOCS1 as a predictive marker or target is a relatively new approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qin, Yong — University of Texas El Paso
- Study coordinator: Qin, Yong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how SOCS1 affects uveal melanoma treatment with immunotherapy
This study is looking at how a protein called SOCS1 affects how well uveal melanoma patients respond to immunotherapy, with the hope of finding better ways to treat this tough cancer by understanding why current treatments aren't working as well as they should.
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Overcoming Melanoma Treatment Resistance with a Special IL-18 Approach
A Yale-led project tests a special engineered IL-18 immune signal to help melanoma patients who don’t fully respond to current therapies.
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Prebiotic diet to boost gut health and improve immunotherapy response in melanoma
A diet-based approach using prebiotic foods and nutrition counseling is studied alongside standard immunotherapy to help melanoma patients respond better and reduce side effects.
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Dual mRNA therapeutics aimed at liver metastasis from uveal melanoma
A new approach uses two mRNA-based therapies designed to target liver metastases in adults with uveal melanoma.
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.