Targeting CD206+ macrophages to boost immune attack against metastatic prostate cancer
Official title: Therapeutic targeting of CD206+ TAMs to enhance adaptive and innate anti-tumor immune responses in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11377596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new approach to help the body's own immune system fight metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by switching tumor-associated macrophages from immune-suppressing to anti-tumor supporters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $455,893 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283649-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have progressed on standard therapies and are eligible for experimental immunotherapy approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without mCRPC or those not eligible for this specific macrophage-targeting strategy may not benefit.
What this research studies
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer often evades immune therapies due to immunosuppressive macrophages in the tumor. This project focuses on CD206-expressing tumor-associated macrophages and uses RP-182 to reprogram them toward supporting anti-tumor responses. The research combines human tumor data with animal models to understand how reprogrammed macrophages enhance CD8+ T cell activity and overall tumor control. If successful, this strategy could enhance existing therapies and offer new hope for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially improves responses to immunotherapies and slows progression of metastatic prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that reprogramming TAMs can shift the tumor environment toward anti-tumor activity in cancer models.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zarif, Jelani Chinelo — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Zarif, Jelani Chinelo
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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.