# The distinct role of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor for myeloid-derived suppressive cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $495,420

## Abstract

Project summary
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in the blood, lymph nodes, and
bone marrow and at tumor sites in most patients and animals with cancer suppress
antitumor immunity and are therefore a significant impediment to cancer immunotherapy.
Given the nature of cellular heterogeneity and plasticity of MDSCs, the mechanisms and
in situ conditions that regulate and sustain MDSC differentiation and survival, and the
mechanisms MDSC use to promote tumor progression remain largely unknown. Our
preliminary data demonstrate the importance of type 1 cysteinyl leukotriene
receptor (CysLTR1) for the accumulation and immunoregulatory activity of MDSCs in the
cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs)-rich tumor microenvironment. These results have led to
the novel hypothesis that CysLTR1 signaling is essential in tumor-induced MDSC
accumulation for both immune suppression and tumor promotion. In this proposal, we
will characterize further the phenotype and function of MDSCs in the tumor
microenvironment, and explore the signaling pathways implicated by CysLTR1 in
regulating MDSC differentiation, turnover and function using both gain-of-function and
loss-of-function approaches. Our research will provide new insights into how MDSCs are
induced and suppress antitumor immunity, and how they are molded by the tumor
microenvironment, and may offer a clinically applicable strategy on MDSC targeting to
enhance the efficacy of current tumor immunotherapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986990
- **Project number:** 1R01CA250101-01
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bin Zhang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $495,420
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986990, The distinct role of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor for myeloid-derived suppressive cells (1R01CA250101-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986990. Licensed CC0.

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