# DC-HIL in cancer

> **NIH VA I01** · VA NORTH TEXAS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Melanoma and other cancers continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality.
Having discovered an immune regulator (DC-HIL) whose function can be manipulated
to treat cancers, we will: (1) determine whether DC-HIL accounts for resistance to
current cancer immunotherapy; (2) characterize the combination of mAb against
immune targets that produces optimal treatment benefits; and (3) elucidate how
blocking the DC-HIL ligand (syndecan-4) on T cells leads to better outcomes for cancer
treatments. Our results will improve current management of metastatic melanoma and
other cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9864019
- **Project number:** 5I01BX004069-03
- **Recipient organization:** VA NORTH TEXAS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** PONCIANO D CRUZ
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9864019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9864019, DC-HIL in cancer (5I01BX004069-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9864019. Licensed CC0.

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