| Grant ID | DP150051 |
| Awarded On | November 19, 2014 |
| Title | Targeting the DC-HIL Receptor for Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy |
| Program | Academic Research |
| Award Mechanism | Bridging the Gap: Early Translational Research Awards |
| Institution/Organization | The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| Principal Investigator/Program Director | Kiyoshi Ariizumi |
| Cancer Sites | Bladder, Breast, Cervix Uteri, Colorectal, Kidney and Renal Pelvis, Lung and Bronchus, Melanoma, Pancreas, Prostate, Skin |
| Contracted Amount | $1,163,655 |
| Lay Summary |
Despite new advances in cancer treatments, survival of patients with advanced or widespread cancer remains poor because many cancers can weaken the immune system by activating a special type of white blood cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) that prevents natural killing of cancer cells. We discovered that mice and patients with melanoma (but not healthy mice or individuals) express a protein (termed DC-HIL) on the surface of MDSC that is responsible for their ability to prevent natural killing of cancer cells. Taking away the DC-HIL gene or blocking its function (through a specific antibody) stops the activation and expansion of MDSC, reactivates the cancer-killing ability... |