# WEE1 inhibition and tumor immunity

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $213,256

## 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:** 9954049
- **Project number:** 5R01CA222963-03
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bin Zhang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $213,256
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9954049

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9954049, WEE1 inhibition and tumor immunity (5R01CA222963-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9954049. Licensed CC0.

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