Targeting LKB1-null lung cancer with the body’s innate immune system
Official title: Targeting LKB1-null lung adenocarcinoma with innate immune system
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11337596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why a common type of lung cancer with LKB1 mutations may be kept in check by the body’s innate immune system, and how this could help patients who don’t respond to traditional therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | July 12, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,455 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284648-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with LKB1-mutant lung adenocarcinoma or related tumor biology could benefit from therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without LKB1 mutations or whose tumors do not involve innate immunity mechanisms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse model and lung cancer cell lines to understand how innate immune cells interact with LKB1-mutant tumors, especially why these cancers show sex-specific differences. The team will identify which innate immune components are responsible for suppressing tumor growth and how these mechanisms differ between males and females. They will study tumor development, immune cell behavior, and potential targets to boost innate immunity in LKB1-null LUAD. The goal is to uncover new ways to make this aggressive cancer more controllable in people who currently have few targeted options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal innate-immunity-based strategies to treat or prevent LKB1-mutant LUAD, potentially improving response to therapy and survival for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Animal and cell-line studies have shown sex differences in immune interactions with lung cancer, supporting the plausibility of translating these insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Wei — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Wei
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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.