Understanding how tumors interact with the immune system and resist treatment in bladder cancer
Official title: Tumor-Immune Interactions and Cisplatin Resistance in Bladder Cancer
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10985089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bladder cancer tumors hide from the immune system and resist a common chemotherapy drug, with the goal of finding new ways to help patients respond better to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $210,973 |
| NIH project number | 1K08CA282969-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with bladder cancer who are undergoing treatment or are resistant to current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-bladder cancers or those who are not currently receiving treatment for bladder cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between bladder cancer tumors and the immune system, particularly focusing on how tumors evade immune responses and resist the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. The principal investigator, Dr. Filipe de Carvalho, aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that target immune-suppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment. By studying tumor-associated macrophages, which play a significant role in tumor growth and immune evasion, the research seeks to identify novel treatments that could enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies. Patients may benefit from advancements in treatment options that could improve their response to therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for bladder cancer, improving patient outcomes and survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting immune cells in cancer treatment, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in bladder cancer therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Carvalho, Filipe — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: De Carvalho, Filipe
Related research
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A small grant will explore how a T-cell protein called Nrf2 affects muscle-invasive bladder cancer and whether targeting it could help patients respond better to immune therapies.
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Molecular clues to bladder cancer cell changes and therapy response
This NIH grant looks at how bladder cancer cells change their identity and how that affects response to treatment, with a focus on aggressive neuroendocrine variants.
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Repurposing spironolactone to treat bladder cancer inside the bladder
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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.