Tumor-targeted imaging and alpha-particle therapy for mesothelioma
Official title: Targeting tumor-specific epitope for imaging and therapy for mesothelioma
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11252001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops an antibody-based imaging approach and a targeted alpha-particle therapy to find and kill mesothelioma tumors, including hard-to-treat sarcomatoid cases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,739 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA288612-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, including epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic subtypes, especially those with recurrent or hard-to-treat disease who might enroll in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without mesothelioma or whose tumors do not express the CD46 target are unlikely to benefit from this targeted approach.
What this research studies
If I have mesothelioma, the team will use a human antibody that binds a tumor-specific part of CD46 to deliver both imaging and potent alpha-particle radiation directly to tumors. They plan to pair a 203Pb/212Pb isotope combination for SPECT imaging and targeted alpha therapy so doctors can see tumors and then deliver focused radiation. The antibody has been made under cGMP and related antibody-drug versions have already shown good safety in other cancer trials. Early lab work shows the antibody is taken up by mesothelioma cells and can detect tumors in animal models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This approach could enable more precise tumor detection and a highly potent, targeted therapy that may improve outcomes for patients with mesothelioma, especially treatment-resistant sarcomatoid tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Related alpha-emitting radioimmunotherapy approaches have shown promise in other cancers and the team's antibody-based imaging has encouraging preclinical results and a favorable safety profile in related clinical studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Jiang — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: He, Jiang
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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.