AHR's effect on immunotherapy response and side effects in bladder cancer
The role of AHR in modulatingimmunotherapy response and adverse events in bladder cancer
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · NIH-11329017
This project will look at whether AHR pathway activity in bladder tumors affects how people respond to immune checkpoint treatments and whether it triggers dangerous rapid tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11329017 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have bladder cancer, this research will examine tumor samples to see where the AHR pathway and its target gene CYP1A1 are active and how that relates to responses and side effects after immunotherapy. Researchers will use spatial profiling (NanoString GeoMX) to map RNA and protein in CYP1A1-positive tumors and study metabolic changes linked to fatty acid and xenobiotic processing. The team will test whether AHR activation before treatment makes tumors or the tumor environment more prone to rapid growth after immune checkpoint drugs. Findings come from analysis of human tumor tissue and laboratory work to understand cellular signaling behind these effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with bladder cancer whose tumor tissue can be tested, especially those being considered for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy or whose tumors show AHR/CYP1A1 activity.
Not a fit: People without bladder cancer or whose tumors clearly lack AHR/CYP1A1 activation are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who will benefit from immune checkpoint drugs and reduce the risk of dangerous rapid tumor growth in bladder cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked AHR activation and CYP1A1 with immune-related tumor behavior, but connecting AHR to immunotherapy-triggered hyperprogression is a newer and not yet proven idea.
Where this research is happening
GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES
- VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE — GRAND RAPIDS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JANG, HYO SIK — VAN ANDEL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- Study coordinator: JANG, HYO SIK
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 below.
Conditions: Bladder Cancer