Identifying Cytokines That Enhance Macrophage Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer
Abstract
Scientific Objectives and Rationale: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in military personnel and the civilian population. Conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy are often ineffective for colorectal cancer. Since they work by non-specifically killing rapidly growing cells, they cause hair loss, decreased blood counts, nerve damage, and irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. New approaches to treating cancer include the use of immune therapies, which train a patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Although there has been remarkable success using immune therapies for some cancers, these drugs do not benefit the majority of patients with colorectal cancer. In this proposal, we will investigate how therapies that activate immune cells called macrophages can be used to attack colorectal cancer. In particular, we will focus on whether a class of proteins in the body, called cytokines, can make macrophages more effective at attacking and eliminating colorectal cancer cells. Our overall goal is to find safer and more effective ways to treat colorectal cancer, particularly when it is in an advanced or metastatic stage of disease. Career Goals: Dr. Weiskopf aspires to be a leader in understanding how to use the immune system to fight colorectal cancer. He is a physician-scientist who aims to translate his discoveries in the laboratory into new treatments for patients with colorectal cancer. This award will expand Dr. Weiskopf’s research program and allow him to pursue an ambitious set of experiments that could identify new therapies and change the treatment of colorectal cancer in the near future if successful. Applicability of Research: Successful completion of this project may help a large population of patients with colorectal cancer. This research may identify safer and more effective treatments that could cure certain types of colorectal cancer. We hope that, by the completion of the award period, the research will provide the rationale for further drug development and clinical trials in patients with colorectal cancer. This project is highly relevant to service members, Veterans, and their families since colorectal cancer is relatively common in the general population and often afflicts military personnel. Overarching Challenge: In this proposal, we aim to transform the treatment of colorectal cancer and metastatic cancer through the identification of new targets. We expect our findings will improve immunotherapy for colorectal cancer, especially at an advanced or metastatic stage of disease. If successful, we expect our findings will also improve the treatment and outcomes for patients in underserved or under recognized populations. Military Relevance: Colorectal cancer is among the leading causes of death among military personnel and the general population. Colorectal cancer often impacts military members directly and creates a significant burden of care for family members. In this proposal, we aim to find new ways to treat and eliminate colorectal cancer, thus reducing the disease burden and promoting mission readiness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210141
Entities
People
- Kipp Weiskopf
Organizations
- United States Army
- Whitehead Institute