Understanding why some cancers resist immunotherapy
Multiplex imaging in therapy refractory tumors: understanding the spatiotemporal facets of an immunosuppressive environment
This work aims to discover why certain cancers, especially pancreatic cancer, do not respond to powerful immune-boosting treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370865 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that immunotherapies can be very effective against some cancers, but many tumors, like pancreatic cancer, remain resistant. This happens because tumors are complex and can be different even within the same patient. To understand these differences, our team is using special mouse models that mimic the variety of human pancreatic tumors and their responses to treatment. We will use advanced imaging techniques to look closely at the tumor environment and see how it changes over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that are difficult to treat with current immunotherapies, such as pancreatic cancer, could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers already respond well to existing immunotherapies may not directly benefit from this specific research, which focuses on resistant tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to make immunotherapies more effective for patients with resistant cancers, particularly pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
How similar studies have performed: While immunotherapies have shown success in some cancers, many studies highlight the challenge of resistance, making this work an important step in overcoming those limitations.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maltez, Vivien Ileana — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Maltez, Vivien Ileana
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.