Testing a tiny device to find the best cancer drugs for T cell lymphoma patients
Official title: Evaluation of an implantable microdevice for rapid cancer drug screening directly in T cell lymphoma patients
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10872242 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a tiny device that can be placed right into tumors of patients with advanced skin lymphomas to find out which cancer drugs work best for them, all while keeping side effects low.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $352,052 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA252312-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10872242 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma or peripheral T cell lymphoma who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those who do not have T cell lymphoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates an innovative implantable microdevice that is placed directly into the tumor of patients with advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma and peripheral T cell lymphoma. The device, which is smaller than a grain of rice, allows for the testing of up to 20 different cancer drugs directly within the tumor environment. By delivering microdoses of these drugs, the research aims to identify the most effective treatment for each patient while minimizing systemic side effects. The device is retrieved after three days, and the effectiveness of the drugs is assessed through analysis of the surrounding tumor tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized cancer treatments that significantly improve outcomes for patients with T cell lymphoma.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using implantable devices for drug testing have shown promise in other cancer types, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larocca, Cecilia — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Larocca, Cecilia
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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.