Using KRAS inhibitors to help the immune system destroy cancer cells
Official title: KRAS inhibitors prime cancer cells for macrophage-mediated destruction
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11088725 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how combining two treatments—KRAS inhibitors and anti-CD47 antibodies—can help boost the immune system to better fight KRAS mutant cancers, aiming to find a more effective option for patients who have few choices right now.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $446,063 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279259-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088725 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with cancers that have KRAS mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not have KRAS mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how KRAS inhibitors, which are designed to block cancer growth signals, can be combined with anti-CD47 antibodies to enhance the immune system's ability to target and destroy KRAS mutant cancer cells. The approach focuses on activating macrophages, a type of immune cell that can engulf and eliminate cancer cells. By using a specialized laboratory technique to observe the interaction between these treatments and cancer cells, the researchers aim to find a more effective therapy for patients with KRAS mutations. This could lead to improved outcomes for patients who currently have limited treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, more effective treatment option for patients with KRAS mutant cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in combining targeted therapies with immunotherapy, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiskopf, Kipp a — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Weiskopf, Kipp a
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.