Zinc and treatment-resistant melanoma
Cell intrinsic and extrinsic effects of zinc metabolism in therapy resistant melanoma
Researchers are changing zinc levels to try to help people whose melanoma does not respond to immune checkpoint therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310887 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how changes in zinc inside and around melanoma cells can make immune therapy stop working, especially when a tumor has lost the gene called p16. Researchers will study a zinc transporter called SLC39A9 and use lab models and prior CRISPR data to understand how zinc gets trapped inside cancer cells and removed from the tumor environment. They will test whether changing zinc levels can boost cancer cell signals that attract T cells and restore CD8 T cell function. The work combines experiments on tumor samples, cell and animal models, and analysis of patient data to link the biology to outcomes after immune checkpoint therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with melanoma, especially those whose tumors have low or deleted p16 and who have not responded well to immune checkpoint inhibitors, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without melanoma, or whose tumors retain normal p16 expression or are not being treated with immune checkpoint therapy, are less likely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve responses to immune checkpoint therapies by restoring zinc balance and strengthening T cell attack on melanoma.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory data and a CRISPR screen suggest targeting zinc transport can sensitize tumors to anti-PD1, but translating zinc manipulation to patient benefit is largely novel and not yet proven in clinical trials.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aird, Katherine Marie — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Aird, Katherine Marie
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.