Project Grant R01CA298818

The National Cancer Institute awarded Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research $699,794 on August 25, 2026, under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) to modulate the tumor microenvironment and enhance nanoparticle delivery to cancer cells.

The project addresses limited nanoparticle efficacy in cancer therapies caused by nonspecific uptake in the mononuclear phagocyte system and interception by tumor-resident macrophages, which results in median tumor uptake of under 1 percent of injected particles. The funded work develops and tests a tumor microenvironment modulation strategy with three mechanisms: temporary deactivation of macrophage phagocytotic capabilities, dilation of tumor vasculature to improve nanoparticle penetration, and repolarization of macrophages from tumor-supporting M2 phenotype to tumoricidal M1 phenotype to create a hostile microenvironment for cancer cells.

Performance occurs in New York, New York, with a period of performance through July 31, 2031. The award is classified as a Project Grant, the standard assistance type for investigator-initiated research under the Cancer Treatment Research program, which supports discovery, development, and clinical testing of improved cancer treatment methods including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biological therapy, molecularly targeted therapies, and supportive care approaches.