Understanding why some patients with blood cancers don't respond to interferon-alpha treatment
Official title: Elucidating Mechanisms of Therapy-Resistance to Interferon-alfa in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Stem Cells
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11087672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific type of blood cancer stem cell, especially those with CALR mutations, reacts to a treatment called interferon-alpha, to help understand why some patients benefit from the therapy even if their tumors don't shrink, with the goal of finding better treatment options for people with blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $700,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167139-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11087672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with myeloproliferative neoplasms, particularly those with CALR mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without myeloproliferative neoplasms or those who do not have CALR mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how certain blood cancer stem cells, particularly those with CALR mutations, respond to interferon-alpha therapy. By analyzing blood samples from patients, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that lead to therapy resistance. Using advanced techniques, researchers will examine how interferon-alpha affects the differentiation of these stem cells, potentially revealing why some patients experience clinical benefits without a corresponding decrease in tumor burden. The findings could provide insights that help improve treatment strategies for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment strategies for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, enhancing their response to interferon-alpha therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding therapy resistance in blood cancers, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nam, Seung Ha — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Nam, Seung Ha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Complement and clotting in JAK2V617F myeloproliferative neoplasms
A short, patient-friendly study will look at how a specific mutation in blood cells may trigger the body’s complement system to cause clots in people with myeloproliferative neoplasms.
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This project explores how the lining of blood vessels may drive dangerous clots in people with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
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Hypoxia-inducible factors and neutrophil diversity in blood clotting in myeloproliferative neoplasms
A physician-scientist is training over five years to uncover how low-oxygen signals and diverse neutrophils drive dangerous clots in people with myeloproliferative neoplasms, with the goal of finding new treatment targets.
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Inherited genetic risks shaping myeloid cancer initiation
A research project at Boston Children’s Hospital is exploring how inherited genetic differences may push blood stem cells toward the start of myeloproliferative neoplasms, with potential implications for earlier detection and prevention.
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Understanding why some myeloproliferative neoplasm patients resist interferon therapy
Researchers are studying why interferon-alpha works for some blood cancer patients but not others, by looking closely at stem cells from CALR-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms.
-
Genetic and epigenetic factors shaping response in advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms
This grant looks at how genetic and epigenetic differences influence how patients with advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms respond to therapies.
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.