Biomarkers for who will respond to immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
Official title: Project 3: Determining biomarkers for responsiveness to immunotherapy targeting LAG3/PD1 in HNSCC
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11404948 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team at the University of Pittsburgh is studying biomarkers to predict which people with head and neck cancer will respond to immunotherapies that target PD-1 and LAG-3.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2004 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $302,039 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA097190-20 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404948 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are receiving or may receive PD-1 and/or LAG-3 targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving or eligible for PD-1/LAG-3–targeted therapies may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how current and experimental immunotherapies work in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to identify biomarkers that predict treatment response. Researchers will explore how LAG-3 and PD-1 inhibitors affect CD8+ T cells in tumors and in the blood, and how these effects relate to patient outcomes. The work may involve analyzing patient samples and clinical data to uncover mechanisms of resistance and potential combination strategies to improve effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help tailor immunotherapy to patients most likely to benefit and guide new treatment approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that combining checkpoint inhibitors can enhance anti-tumor responses, but specific biomarkers for LAG-3 and PD-1 blockade in HNSCC are still being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bruno, Tullia Carmela — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bruno, Tullia Carmela
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Hypoxia and metabolism as targets to improve immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
This grant tests new combinations of metabolic drugs with immunotherapy to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
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Enhancing Dendritic Cell Movement to Lymph Nodes to Improve Immunotherapy in HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer
This grant aims to help people with HPV-negative head and neck cancer respond better to immunotherapy by guiding immune cells to the right lymph nodes.
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Targeting LAG3 to improve pre-surgery immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
This grant tests a combination immunotherapy before surgery to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
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Markers that predict response to LAG3 and PD‑1 immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
This project looks for tumor and blood markers to help predict which people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma will respond to PD‑1 and LAG‑3 immunotherapies.
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Targeting low oxygen and abnormal metabolism to help immunotherapy work better in head and neck cancer
This research tests whether changing tumor oxygen levels and metabolism can help immunotherapy work better for people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
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.