Why adult brain tumors keep growing and changing
The Immortality and Evolution of Adult Brain Tumors
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · NIH-11181173
Researchers are finding mutations and immune targets that appear across adult brain tumors so doctors can develop personalized immune-based treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181173 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work takes many small, mapped samples from different spots across a patient's tumor to capture how the tumor varies in space. Scientists sequence DNA, RNA, and T-cell receptors from those samples to find mutations that produce immune targets present throughout the whole tumor. They also study how tumor cells become effectively 'immortal' by turning on telomerase through TERT promoter changes. The team aims to use these findings to design personalized immunotherapies that hit tumor-wide targets and to understand why some treatments fail.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with brain tumors (for example glioblastoma) who are undergoing surgery and can provide tumor tissue for detailed spatial sampling.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors or patients whose tumors cannot be safely sampled during surgery are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable personalized immune therapies that target mutations found across a patient's entire brain tumor.
How similar studies have performed: Neoantigen-guided immunotherapies have shown promise in some cancers, but applying this approach to adult brain tumors is relatively new and still challenging.
Where this research is happening
SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO — SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HONG, CHIBO — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- Study coordinator: HONG, CHIBO
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.