Targeting specific sugars on Ewing Sarcoma cells to improve treatment outcomes
Official title: Immunotherapeutic targeting of gangliosides in Ewing Sarcoma
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-10931390 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that mostly affects kids and young adults, by using special immune cells that can better find and attack the cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $755,393 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA281840-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931390 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and young adults diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, particularly those with metastatic or relapsed disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Ewing sarcoma who have already exhausted all treatment options or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new immunotherapy approach for Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. The study aims to utilize chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that target a specific sugar molecule, GD2, found on the surface of cancer cells. By enhancing the effectiveness of these CAR T cells through various mechanisms, including the use of epigenetic inhibitors, the research seeks to improve the recognition and destruction of tumor cells. This innovative approach could lead to better treatment options for patients who currently have limited therapies available.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective treatment for Ewing sarcoma, potentially reducing relapse rates and improving survival outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using CAR T cell therapy in pediatric cancers, indicating that this approach may be effective for Ewing sarcoma as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Majzner, Robbie G. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Majzner, Robbie G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AI-powered prognostic model for Ewing sarcoma using digital pathology
Researchers are building an AI tool to predict survival for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma using digitized pathology slides.
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RAPID: A patient-centered, fast-tracked drug trial platform for young people with relapsed Ewing sarcoma and DSRCT
A patient-friendly, open-label phase 2 platform trial tests promising drug combinations for teens and young adults whose Ewing sarcoma or DSRCT has come back or not responded to treatment.
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TGFβ brakes immune evasion and metastasis in Ewing sarcoma during radiation
A physician-scientist will study whether blocking TGFβ during radiation can help CAR T cells fight Ewing sarcoma and improve patient outcomes.
-
Function and Targeting of ETV6 in Ewing Sarcoma
A scientist at Case Western Reserve University is studying a specific protein, ETV6, that helps a rare bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma, with the goal of finding targeted therapies that could spare healthy cells.
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Targeting immune markers in Ewing Sarcoma to guide safer, more effective therapies
A funded project at Stanford aims to use immune markers on Ewing Sarcoma to develop targeted immunotherapies that work in children and adults with this cancer.
-
Ewing sarcoma: how DNA repair weaknesses affect risk and treatment
A clinician-researcher team at Dana-Farber is studying how DNA damage repair weaknesses help drive Ewing sarcoma in kids and teens, with the goal of better predicting risk and guiding therapy.
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.