Better immune and targeted radiation treatment for head and neck cancer
Official title: Optimizing immunoradiotherapy for HNSCC
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11144432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests whether protecting nearby lymph nodes during focused radiation together with PD‑1 immunotherapy helps people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially HPV‑negative tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $663,994 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281285-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are eligible for PD‑1 therapy and for focused stereotactic radiation, particularly those with HPV‑negative disease.
✕Less likely to help
People without head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, those not eligible for PD‑1 drugs or stereotactic radiation, or those whose care requires standard large‑field radiation or extensive surgery are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you have head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, this project combines PD‑1 immune drugs with small, focused radiation aimed at the tumor while trying to spare the draining lymph nodes that help trigger immune responses. Early lab and animal work showed that damaging or removing these lymph nodes can stop PD‑1 drugs from working, so the team will use lymphatic‑sparing stereotactic radiation and monitor tumor outcomes. Researchers will track immune cells such as dendritic cells and B cells in the nodes and blood and record side effects and tumor control. The work includes both laboratory studies explaining how lymph nodes support anti‑tumor immunity and early‑phase patient treatment using the combined approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase the number of patients who respond to PD‑1 immunotherapy and reduce harm from large-field radiation or unnecessary lymph node removal.
How similar studies have gone: PD‑1 immunotherapy has shown modest response rates (around 14–20%) and a Phase III trial found no benefit when added to standard large‑field chemoradiation, so lymph‑node‑sparing immunoradiotherapy is a newer strategy supported by early‑phase clinical work and preclinical data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Califano, Joseph a — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Califano, Joseph a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
-
Restoring responses to immunotherapy in metastatic lymph nodes in head and neck cancer
A clinical research project aims to improve how immunotherapy works when cancer has spread to lymph nodes in head and neck cancer patients.
-
Data-driven classification of aggressive tissue traits to predict cancer outcomes in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
A clinician-science grant uses data science and AI to identify tissue patterns in HPV-negative head and neck cancer that may predict how long patients stay cancer-free.
-
HNSCC, iron addiction, and potential iron-targeted therapies
This grant explores how head and neck cancer cells become dependent on iron and whether targeting iron pathways could lead to new treatments for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.
-
Targeting SREBP2 to boost radiation therapy in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
This grant aims to see if blocking SREBP2 can make radiation therapy work better for people with HPV-negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
-
Axelopran added to pembrolizumab for frontline recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer
A new treatment approach combines axelopran with pembrolizumab for people with PD-L1 positive recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer to see if it improves response.
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.