Stronger, more accessible EBV-targeted T-cell therapy for lymphoma
Project 3: Increasing the potency and accessibility of EBVSTs for the treatment of Lymphoma
This project will boost patients' EBV-specific T cells with a built-in growth signal and use a drug to awaken the virus so the cells expand and better fight EBV-positive lymphoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178355 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work engineers patients' own EBV-specific T cells to carry a constitutive interleukin-7 receptor (C7R) that helps them survive, expand, and resist the tumor's suppressive signals. Investigators will infuse these modified autologous EBVSTs into people with EBV-positive lymphoma and monitor how well the cells persist and clear tumor. They will also give the drug panobinostat to reverse viral latency and trigger EBV reactivation, which can drive large-scale expansion of the infused T cells. The approach aims to achieve strong anti-lymphoma effects without the toxicity of traditional lymphodepleting chemotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people whose lymphoma tests positive for Epstein–Barr virus and who are eligible for autologous cellular therapy at the treatment center.
Not a fit: People with EBV-negative lymphomas or those who are medically ineligible for autologous T-cell collection and infusion are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a more effective and longer-lasting treatment for EBV-positive lymphoma with lower toxicity than current chemotherapy-based approaches.
How similar studies have performed: EBV-specific T-cell therapies have led to tumor clearance in prior trials, but combining them with the engineered C7R receptor and panobinostat is a newer strategy supported mainly by promising preclinical and early clinical data.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rooney, Cliona M. — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Rooney, Cliona M.
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.