Targeting specific immune cells to improve treatment for advanced 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-10880701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer that aims to boost the body's immune response by targeting certain cells that make it harder for the immune system to fight the cancer, and it may involve patients trying out this promising new therapy.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $434,649 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA283649-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880701 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are men diagnosed with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have not responded adequately to current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer or those whose cancer has not metastasized may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which is characterized by immune suppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that hinder effective immune responses. The study aims to enhance anti-tumor immune responses by targeting CD206, a receptor on these TAMs, using a novel therapeutic agent called RP-182. By reprogramming these immune cells, the research seeks to improve the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies and potentially restore the body's ability to fight the cancer. Patients may be involved in clinical trials that assess the safety and efficacy of this new approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer, enhancing their immune response against tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting immune cells to enhance cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how aggressive cell states emerge in castration-resistant prostate cancer
A research project aims to uncover the hidden cell states that help prostate cancer resist standard therapy and how these states arise early in tumor development.
-
Enhancer RNA CYP11A1-eRNA in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Researchers are testing a new RNA-based target, CYP11A1-eRNA, to see if blocking it can hamper the growth of castration-resistant prostate cancer in the lab and animal models.
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Targeted Immunostimulatory Dual Drug Conjugates for Heterogeneous Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Researchers are testing a targeted therapy approach to help people with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by boosting the immune system and delivering drugs directly to cancer cells.
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Androgen Receptor Action in Prostate Cancer that Stops Responding to Therapy
This grant supports research to understand why certain prostate cancers stop responding to AR-targeted therapies and to find new ways to target them.
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Hyperactive methylation in a hard-to-treat prostate cancer subtype
Researchers are studying a newly identified methylation-heavy group of advanced prostate cancer to understand its biology and find clues for better treatments.
-
Therapeutic Targeting of Lineage Plasticity in Advanced Prostate Cancer
A cancer research effort aimed at understanding and tackling how aggressive prostate cancers become resistant to standard AR-targeted therapies.
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.