Using small molecule drugs to improve CAR T cell therapy for Uveal Melanoma
Official title: Tumor downstaging with small molecule therapeutics to enhance Uveal Melanoma metastasis eradication by B7-H3 CAR T cells
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-10652851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to make CAR T cell therapy work better for people with Uveal Melanoma, a rare eye cancer that can spread to the liver, by using special medicines to shrink tumors and boost the immune system's ability to fight them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $167,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03CA280302-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10652851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic Uveal Melanoma who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-metastatic Uveal Melanoma or those whose tumors do not express the B7-H3 protein may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy for patients with Uveal Melanoma, a rare cancer that often spreads to the liver. The approach involves using small molecule therapeutics to downstage tumors, making them more susceptible to treatment. By targeting the B7-H3 protein, which is highly expressed in Uveal Melanoma cells, the study aims to improve the immune response against these tumors. Patients may benefit from a novel combination of therapies designed to overcome the limitations of current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with metastatic Uveal Melanoma.
How similar studies have gone: While CAR T cell therapy has shown promise in hematological cancers, its application in solid tumors like Uveal Melanoma is still being explored, making this research a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferrone, Cristina R. — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ferrone, Cristina R.
Related research
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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.