Repurposing TRM for tumor immunotherapy

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $554,986 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract: Repurposing TRM for tumor immunotherapy Overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and localizing adoptive cell and checkpoint blockade therapies to solid tumors remain major impediments to successful cancer immunotherapy. This proposal addresses these issues. Preliminary data indicates that human tumors are populated with antiviral T cells that remain competent to trigger immunostimulatory sensing and alarm function upon local recognition of cognate peptide. In mice, peptide alarm therapy synergizes with PD-L1 to clear tumors and mice are durably protected against tumor growth at alternative anatomic sites in the absence of further treatment. This proposal will dissect the mechanisms by which peptide alarm therapy triggers tumor clearance and establishes systemic tumor-specific immunity. It will test synergy with other immunotherapies. Further investigations will be made on the ability to recapitulate peptide alarm therapy on human tumor explants in anticipation of informing a clinical trial. This proposal may have a sustained impact on the field by defining a new avenue of cancer immunotherapy that operates independently but synergizes with other therapies.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10064999
Project number
5R01CA238439-02
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Principal Investigator
DAVID MASOPUST
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$554,986
Award type
5
Project period
2019-12-04 → 2024-11-30