Understanding how adrenal stress response can protect against harmful immune reactions during cancer treatment

Mechanism of the adrenal stress response protection against therapy-induced lethal immune activation

NIH-funded research VA Medical Center - Lexington, Ky · NIH-10804993

This study is looking at how the body's stress response might help protect patients getting a special type of stem cell transplant from serious immune reactions, and it aims to find ways to prevent these reactions and improve treatment safety for people with blood cancers.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA Medical Center - Lexington, Ky NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Lexington, United States)
Project IDNIH-10804993 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the role of the adrenal stress response in protecting patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) from severe immune reactions known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The study aims to identify patients at high risk for CRS and explore preventive therapies by examining the production of glucocorticoids, which are crucial for managing immune responses. By using a specific mouse model, researchers will analyze how the absence of adrenal stress response affects the severity of CRS and overall patient outcomes. The goal is to enhance treatment safety and effectiveness for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies who may be at risk for cytokine release syndrome.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing allo-HCT or those without risk factors for cytokine release syndrome may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention strategies for severe immune reactions in patients receiving life-saving cancer treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding the adrenal stress response can significantly impact treatment outcomes in similar patient populations, indicating a promising avenue for further exploration.

Where this research is happening

Lexington, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.