Targeting CDH17 with T cell therapy for translocation renal cell carcinoma
Official title: From biology to therapy: mechanism-informed targeting in translocation renal cell carcinoma
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11363781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if a cancer-targeting immune treatment can help patients with a hard-to-treat kidney cancer called translocation RCC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,086 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA302918-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with translocation RCC (tRCC), especially those whose tumor cells overexpress CDH17.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express CDH17 or who cannot receive T cell–based therapies due to safety or eligibility issues.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a specific kidney cancer type driven by a genetic fusion (TFE3) and tests a therapy that redirects T cells to attack a cancer protein (CDH17) found on tumor cells. The team will study how the cancer’s fusion biology controls CDH17 and then validate CDH17 as a safe and effective target for T cell–based therapy. Researchers have already generated human antibodies against CDH17 and will explore their use in redirecting T cells to kill tumor cells in preclinical models. The work aims to identify whether this approach can be a precise, targeted treatment for tRCC that currently lacks specific therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a new, targeted immunotherapy option for patients with translocation RCC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in other cancers shows that T cell–redirecting therapies can be effective when a suitable tumor antigen is present.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viswanathan, Srinivas Raghavan — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Viswanathan, Srinivas Raghavan
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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.