Biomarkers to predict and understand response to anti-PD-1 therapy in metastatic kidney cancer
Official title: Tissue-based biomarkers of anti-PD-1-based therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11346038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests tissue clues like immune cells and tumor targets to figure out why some patients with metastatic kidney cancer respond to anti-PD-1 therapy while others do not.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $713,011 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266424-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11346038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are treated with anti-PD-1-based therapies and have available tumor tissue samples
✕Less likely to help
Patients without the identified biomarkers or whose tumors do not express relevant targets may not benefit from the specific biomarker-guided approach
What this research studies
The research will look for specific tumor features and immune cell patterns in kidney cancer tissue that correlate with good responses to immune checkpoint therapy. It will study antigen targets, CD8 T cell states, and the tumor microenvironment to understand how they influence treatment success. By examining endogenous retroviral elements and their role in activating immune pathways, the team aims to identify biomarkers that predict who will benefit from therapy and why. The work involves analyzing patient tumor samples and related data to map connections between biology and response to treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized therapy choices based on tissue biomarkers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses have linked ERV expression and CD8 T cell states to responses, but this project aims to validate and extend these findings in RCC.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choueiri, Toni — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Choueiri, Toni
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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.