Why some cancer immunotherapy drugs cause dangerous heart inflammation
CXCL9/10 Macrophage Induced CXCR3+ T-cell Recruitment to the Heart Contributes to Immunotherapy Myocarditis
Seeing if blocking a chemical signal that draws T cells into the heart can prevent dangerous heart inflammation in people receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158831 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how immune cells and the signals they produce cause myocarditis linked to immune checkpoint inhibitors used for advanced cancer. Researchers use a mouse model that mimics ICI myocarditis, high-throughput single-cell immune profiling, and lab cell experiments to study macrophages that make CXCL9 and CXCL10 and the CXCR3+ T cells they attract. They will test drugs that block the CXCR3 pathway to see whether fewer T cells enter the heart and whether heart inflammation and survival improve in the model. Results will inform whether targeting this pathway could be a route toward preventing or treating ICI-related myocarditis in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced cancer or those who have experienced ICI-related myocarditis would be the patients most likely to benefit from this line of research.
Not a fit: People not treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors or with heart disease from other non-immune causes are unlikely to be helped directly by this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that prevent or reduce life-threatening myocarditis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown T-cell and macrophage involvement in ICI myocarditis, but directly blocking CXCR3 in preclinical models is a newer approach that is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Han — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Han
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.