# DELINEATE THE TUMOR IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING IMMUNOTHERAPY RESPONSE

> **NIH NIH U54** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $186,712

## Abstract

Project Summary
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a precancerous condition in which a person
has moderately elevated levels of an abnormal immunoglobulin (Ig) protein (called M protein) in the blood.
MGUS patients have a cancer risk ~6.5 times as high as the control population. MGUS may progress to
multiple myeloma (MM), Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, or plasmacytoma. MM, WM, a large portion
of NHL, and AL amyloidosis are incurable diseases. CLL and plasmacytoma are rarely cured. The significance
of MGUS calls for a cancer prevention-interception U54 Specialized Center dedicated to this precancerous
condition  MGUS affects ~1% of the population, MGUS progresses to cancer or other associated blood
disorders persistently at a rate of ~1% per year, and ~90% cancer/disorder that progressed from MGUS are
incurable. All patients with MGUS are potential candidates for cancer prevention and interception. We
hypothesize that cancer-driving molecules and the bone marrow microenvironment promoting MGUS
progression are suitable targets for precision cancer prevention and interception. We propose to establish the
Cancer Prevention-Interception against MGUS Progression to Cancer (CAP-MGUS) Center as an agile and
effective network infrastructure dedicated to preventing MGUS progression. This Center will undertake
collaborative research focusing on immunologically and chemically targeted agents that prevent or intercept
the oncogenic process in patients with MGUS or smoldering diseases. We propose three aims to achieve the
CAP-MGUS Center’s overarching goal. In Aim 1, we will functionally validate several oncotargets in tumor
initiation and progression to invasive cancer and ascertain their suitability for targeted intervention strategies.
In Aim 2, we will discover innovative immuno- and chemo-prevention and interception agents through in vitro
and in vivo efficacy evaluation. In Aim 3, we will develop new projects by identifying novel targets for cancer-
preventive or interceptive interventions against MGUS progression. Collectively, we expect to obtain
chemoprevention and immunoprevention agents for further development or earlier phase clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11116722
- **Project number:** 3U54CA272691-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Yong Li
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,712
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11116722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11116722, DELINEATE THE TUMOR IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING IMMUNOTHERAPY RESPONSE (3U54CA272691-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11116722. Licensed CC0.

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