Targeting PD-1–Expressing Tumor-Associated Macrophages to Overcome Immunoresistant Lung Adenocarcinoma
Official title: Targeting PD-1-Expressing Tumor-Associated Macrophages To Overcome Immunoresistant Lung Adenocarcinoma
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11277970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at a study aiming to make immune therapies work better for lung cancer by targeting a specific type of immune cell inside tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $663,998 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA308295-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11277970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with lung adenocarcinoma, especially those with resistant or immunotherapy-refractory tumors, could benefit from the insights and potential future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Not all lung cancer patients may respond to macrophage-targeting strategies, particularly if their tumors lack the identified PD-1 HIGH TAMs.
What this research studies
This project looks at lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer, and how some tumors resist immunotherapy. It uses advanced animal models and human-relevant tumor analyses to identify a macrophage subtype that carries high levels of PD-1 and helps suppress the immune response. The researchers test combinations, including a PD-1 blocker with an approved macrophage-targeting drug, to see if they can reduce tumor burden. If successful, these findings could guide new treatment approaches for patients whose tumors don’t respond well to current immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve responses to immunotherapy for some patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests macrophage-targeting strategies can modulate tumor immunity, with this study building on those findings in a lung cancer context.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jang, Hee-Jin — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Jang, Hee-Jin
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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.