WEE1 inhibition and tumor immunity

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $411,600 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Project summary Tumors employ a number of mechanisms to promote immune escape, including the infiltration of different immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment such as T-regulatory cells (Treg). However, the specific signals within tumor cells that regulate the recruitment of Tregs, giving rise to tumor-induced immunosuppression, remain elusive. Based on our new preliminary data, we hypothesize that WEE1, an important regulator for cell cycle checkpoints, maintains an immunosuppressive and pro- tumorigenic microenvironment, and suppressing WEE1 activity, including via a clinically relevant WEE1 inhibitor, may be therapeutically beneficial by boosting immune-mediated tumor clearance. This proposal seeks to characterize the novel regulatory perspectives of WEE1-mediated crosstalk between tumor cells and host immune cells that should significantly forward the field. Specifically, this project is searching for the molecular mechanisms of WEE1-mediated Treg regulation and development of new effective combinatorial strategies. Our work will thus identify an unappreciated role of WEE1 inhibition in reversing tumor-induced immune suppression.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10440520
Project number
5R01CA222963-05
Recipient
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator
Bin Zhang
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2022
Award amount
$411,600
Award type
5
Project period
2018-07-01 → 2024-06-30