Why tumor-fighting CD8 T cells stop dividing and how to help them work better
TCR signaling and cell cycle regulation in tumor-specific CD8 T cell dysfunction
This project looks at why certain cancer-killing CD8 T cells stop dividing inside tumors and how to restore their ability to fight liver and breast cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304587 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a patient, you should know researchers are trying to find out why some immune cells inside tumors become permanently unresponsive. The team uses mouse cancer models and examines tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells from human liver and breast tumors, including chromatin (ATAC-seq) and cell cycle measurements. They study T cell receptor signaling and the epigenetic programs that lock T cells into early or late dysfunctional states. The goal is to pinpoint steps that could be targeted to keep or return T cells to a dividing, tumor-killing state.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with liver or breast cancers whose tumors contain CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or who are receiving immunotherapy would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that lack tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells, those with primarily blood cancers, or those needing immediate standard treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this tissue- and lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to preserve or restore CD8 T cell function in tumors and improve responses to immunotherapies for solid tumors like breast and liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies show that some patients respond to checkpoint immunotherapies and that dysfunctional T cells have distinct epigenetic signatures, but reversing deep T cell dysfunction remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Philip, Mary — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Philip, Mary
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.