Targeting PP4 to boost ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
Official title: Targeting PP4 to improve ovarian cancer response to immunotherapy
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11378450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic study aims to see if inhibiting PP4 can make chemo-resistant ovarian cancer more responsive to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $457,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276047-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, particularly those with chemo-resistant disease, may be eligible for future participation or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PP4 pathway alterations or those not meeting trial-specific criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
If successful, this research will explore how blocking PP4 alters the cancer cells’ DNA damage response and immune visibility, potentially making chemotherapy and immunotherapy work better together. The team will investigate how PP4 affects tumor immunogenicity and the recruitment and activity of CD8 T cells within ovarian tumors. Through laboratory experiments and analyses of tumor samples, they hope to identify new strategies to enhance anti-tumor immunity for women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. The project focuses on translating basic findings into approaches that could improve treatment outcomes for patients with chemo-resistant disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If PP4 inhibition enhances immunotherapy effectiveness, patients with chemo-resistant ovarian cancer could experience improved responses and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in DDR pathways have shown that DNA damage responses can influence tumor immunity, supporting the potential for this approach, though direct PP4-targeted immunotherapy is investigational.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curtis, Marion — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Curtis, Marion
Related research
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Next-generation engineered NK cell therapy for ovarian cancer
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Improving ovarian cancer treatment with immunotherapy by targeting PP4
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Developing a new treatment for ovarian cancer using engineered proteins
This study is testing a new treatment for ovarian cancer that uses a special protein to help the immune system target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, and it's designed for people battling this tough disease.
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.