Understanding how certain proteins affect treatment response in a type of lung cancer
Official title: Proteomic determinants of response to checkpoint blockade in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11094910 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at certain proteins in tumors from patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma to see if they can help doctors figure out who will benefit from new immune treatments, making it easier to choose the right options and improve survival rates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $449,641 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA248478-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094910 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma who are considering treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those who do not have malignant pleural mesothelioma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific proteins in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumors can predict patient responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a new class of cancer treatments. By analyzing tumor samples using advanced techniques like mass cytometry, the study aims to identify biomarkers that can indicate which patients are likely to benefit from ICIs. This could help avoid unnecessary side effects for those who may not respond and guide treatment decisions for better outcomes. The ultimate goal is to improve survival rates for patients with this challenging cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized treatment plans that enhance survival and reduce side effects for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in using biomarkers to predict responses to immune therapies in various cancers, indicating that this approach has potential.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burt, Bryan Michael — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Burt, Bryan Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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National Mesothelioma Biobank expands patient biospecimen and data sharing for research
A national biobank collects blood, tissue, and clinical data from mesothelioma patients to help researchers develop better diagnostics and treatments.
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Intraperitoneal CAR T cells for peritoneal mesothelioma
A new approach uses CAR T cells delivered directly into the abdominal cavity to target mesothelioma, aiming to help people whose disease is confined to the abdomen.
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Liquid multiomics to tailor systemic treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Researchers are testing liquid biomarkers to help choose personalized treatments for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
-
New ways to make mesothelioma treatment work better
This project looks at whether common antidepressant drugs plus a drug that blocks Mcl-1 can help chemotherapy work better for people with malignant mesothelioma.
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Targeting mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for pleural mesothelioma
The team will try medicines that change cancer cell mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
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Tumor-targeted imaging and alpha-particle therapy for mesothelioma
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.
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.