Understanding how immune cells in tumors communicate
Mechanisms of PD-1 and Tim-3 crosstalk in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
This research explores how certain immune cells interact within tumors to find new ways to make cancer treatments more effective for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Immunotherapy has brought significant progress in treating many cancers, yet not all patients experience lasting benefits. This project aims to discover new ways to improve these powerful treatments, especially by focusing on proteins like Tim-3 and PD-1 found on immune cells within tumors. We want to understand how these proteins communicate and affect the immune system's ability to fight cancer. By gaining a deeper understanding of Tim-3's function, particularly in combination with PD-1 blockade, we hope to develop more effective and targeted therapies. This could lead to better outcomes for more patients battling various types of cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with various types of cancer who may benefit from improved immunotherapy approaches could ultimately be impacted by this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not respond to or are not targeted by immunotherapy may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new and more effective immunotherapy combinations for various types of cancer, improving patient responses and survival.
How similar studies have performed: While first-generation immunotherapies like PD-1 blockade have shown success, therapies targeting Tim-3 alone have underperformed, making this a novel approach to understand their combined mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kane, Lawrence P. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kane, Lawrence P.
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 below.