B cells and how they influence response of operable lung cancer to pre-surgery immunotherapy

Dissecting the role of B lineage cells in mediating response of resectable lung cancer to neoadjuvant immune-based therapy

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11146422

This project looks at whether B cells in and around tumors help people with operable non-small cell lung cancer respond better to immunotherapy given before surgery.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11146422 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have operable non-small cell lung cancer, researchers will study tumor tissue collected around the time of pre-surgery chemoimmunotherapy to map where B cells and immune structures sit in the tumor. They will use advanced spatial-omics and molecular analyses to compare samples from people who had strong responses to those who did not. The team will combine data from recent clinical trials to find immune patterns and potential biomarkers linked to benefit. The ultimate aim is to guide new drug combinations that reduce resistance and help more patients get meaningful benefit from pre-surgery immunotherapy.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with resectable (operable) non-small cell lung cancer who are receiving or eligible for pre-surgery chemoimmunotherapy.

Not a fit: People with unresectable or widely metastatic lung cancer, other cancer types, or those not getting pre-surgery immunotherapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify who is most likely to benefit from neoadjuvant immunotherapy and point to new combination treatments that improve outcomes for patients with resectable NSCLC.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier trials such as NEOSTAR and NeoCOAST found higher B cell levels and tertiary lymphoid structure signals in responders, so this work builds on promising preliminary findings.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.