Understanding immune responses in IDH-mutant glioma patients treated with ATRA and PD-1 inhibitors
Official title: Interrogating Mechanisms of Anti-tumor Immunity in Human Subjects and Murine Models of IDH-Mutant Glioma Treated with All-Trans Retinoic Acid and PD-1 Inhibition
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11377314 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how the immune system reacts in people with a specific brain cancer when given a retinoic acid and a PD-1 blocker, using both patient data and mice to find clues for better therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $597,432 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA284132-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377314 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with IDH-mutant glioma who may receive or have received all-trans retinoic acid and PD-1 inhibitors, or who can contribute human trial data and tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show the identified immune biomarkers or do not respond to the therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study brain tumor patients and mouse models to identify immune markers and cell types that indicate whether a glioma will respond to the treatment. The work combines clinical trial data with animal experiments to map how the immune system interacts with the tumor under the therapy. Findings could guide the design of future treatments that boost the body's own defenses against brain cancer. The project aims to translate immune biology insights into more effective options for patients with these difficult tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to predict who will benefit from the therapy and to new treatment strategies for glioma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies in gliomas have shown that certain immune markers can correlate with response to immunotherapy, but this specific combination in IDH-mutant glioma is investigational.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amankulor, Nduka Mgbechinyere — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Amankulor, Nduka Mgbechinyere
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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.