T cells that tell cancer from healthy tissue by antigen amount
Antigen Density Sensors for Cell Engineering
Researchers are building engineered T cells that attack solid tumors by sensing how many target proteins (antigens) the tumor shows, aiming for safer, more precise treatment for people with solid cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321661 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a solid tumor, this work aims to make immune cell therapies more accurate by teaching T cells to respond to the amount of a tumor's target protein rather than just its presence. In the lab, scientists will build and compare synthetic genetic circuits inside T cells that can 'read' antigen density and will test them using lab-grown tumor spheroids that mimic solid tumor structure. They will also study how tumor architecture, inhibitory signals, and communication between T cells change how these engineered cells behave. This is preclinical work at Stanford designed to create rules and tools that could guide future clinical trials of safer T-cell therapies for solid cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors that express known target proteins and who might be eligible for future engineered T-cell trials are the most likely candidates to benefit eventually.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers lacking targetable antigens, many blood cancers not addressed here, or those needing immediate treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to T-cell therapies that more precisely kill tumors while sparing healthy tissue and reducing side effects.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T-cell therapies have cured some blood cancers, but applying antigen-density sensing to solid tumors is relatively new and mostly tested in laboratory and animal models so far.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez-Lopez, Rogelio Antonio — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hernandez-Lopez, Rogelio Antonio
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.