Bladder cancer: how PD-L1 inside cells affects BRCA1 repair and new treatments
Official title: Bladder cancer PD-L1 control of homologous recombination: Basic mechanisms applied to novel treatments
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11389264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer research project at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic is exploring how bladder cancer’s internal PD-L1 signals change BRCA1’s DNA repair work to influence response to PARP inhibitors and immune therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $633,409 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA268641-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bladder cancer could potentially benefit from future trials or therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not treated with PARP inhibitors or immune therapies may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project brings together bladder cancer experts and DNA damage response researchers to study how intracellular PD-L1 impacts BRCA1-driven DNA repair in bladder tumors. It uses mouse models, human bladder cancer cell lines, patient-derived xenografts and organoids to test how these signals affect sensitivity to PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint therapies. The team will apply genetic, biochemical, and advanced imaging methods to map the mechanism and identify potential new treatment approaches. Results could guide more effective, personalized therapies for bladder cancer patients in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to smarter use of PARP inhibitors and immunotherapies for bladder cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in DDR and PD-L1 biology have shown that signaling pathways can influence therapy response, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curiel, Tyler J. — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Curiel, Tyler J.
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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.