Ablating Liver Metastases with SBRT to Boost Immunotherapy in Melanoma
Official title: Ablating Liver Metastases with SBRT to Enhance Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Melanoma
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11393641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if targeted liver radiation plus two immunotherapy drugs helps people with melanoma that has spread to the liver.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,995 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276217-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with metastatic melanoma and liver metastases who are eligible for liver SBRT and combination immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not respond to SBRT or immunotherapy may not benefit and could experience treatment-related side effects.
What this research studies
This project tests a new treatment plan for patients with melanoma that has spread to the liver. It uses focused liver radiation (SBRT) together with two immune drugs (ipilimumab and nivolumab) to overcome resistance to immunotherapy. The study builds on lab findings showing liver metastases can dampen immune responses and tries to reverse that effect in people. If successful, this approach could enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer and improve outcomes for patients with liver metastases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better responses to immunotherapy and potentially longer-lasting control of their melanoma.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies and early clinical data suggest combining liver-directed radiation with immunotherapy may enhance anti-tumor responses.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrence, Theodore S — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lawrence, Theodore S
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.