Why some blood cancer cells resist natural killer immune cells
Official title: Mechanisms of natural killer cell resistance of treatment-persistent residual tumor cells in hematologic malignancies
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11237081 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are finding how leukemia and myeloma cells survive treatment by resisting natural killer immune cells so future therapies can better prevent relapse in people with blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,253 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276156-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237081 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or multiple myeloma (MM), particularly those with minimal or treatment-persistent residual disease or relapsed disease.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers unrelated to blood malignancies or those who need immediate standard-of-care lifesaving treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this work looks at why some blood cancer cells survive therapy and hide as treatment-persistent residual disease (TPRD/MRD). Scientists will study how those cells shift into a low-Myc, dormant-like state and how they respond when attacked by natural killer (NK) immune cells. The team will use laboratory models, CRISPR genetic screens, and analyses of tumor samples to find genes and pathways that let cancer cells resist NK killing. Results are intended to identify targets that could lead to new treatments to clear leftover cancer and reduce relapse risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new ways to help the immune system eliminate leftover leukemia or myeloma cells and lower the chance of relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Related preclinical work has uncovered immune-resistance mechanisms and informed some immune therapies, but applying these approaches specifically to MRD in blood cancers is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitsiades, Constantine S. — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Mitsiades, Constantine S.
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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.