Stopping bladder tumors from regrowing and boosting the immune response to help chemotherapy
Targeting tumor repopulation and the immune microenvironment to overcome chemoresistance
This project aims to block a shared tumor pathway so chemotherapy works better for people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
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-11182671 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I have muscle-invasive bladder cancer and researchers are studying a pathway that seems to let cancer stem cells regrow tumors after chemo and also weakens the immune response. The team will examine patient tumor samples and laboratory models to learn how this pathway causes cells to release signals that promote tumor repopulation and suppress immunity. They will test drugs or molecular approaches in preclinical models to block that pathway and look for reduced tumor regrowth and stronger anti-tumor immune activity. If the lab results are encouraging, the work could move toward new adjuvant treatments given with chemotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, particularly those receiving or who have recently received chemotherapy.
Not a fit: People with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer or unrelated conditions are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking this pathway could make chemotherapy more effective and reduce tumor recurrence after treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies targeting cancer stem cells or boosting anti-tumor immunity have shown promise in preclinical models, but targeting this common upstream pathway is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Keith Syson — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chan, Keith Syson
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.