Blocking a tumor pathway to boost immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
Official title: Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages via Hedgehog Inhibition to Enhance Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11319812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if adding a drug that blocks the Hedgehog pathway to immune checkpoint therapy helps people with non-small cell lung cancer by restoring the immune system's CD8 T cells inside tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $184,492 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA299786-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who are eligible for PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, have measurable disease, and can undergo tumor biopsies and clinic visits.
✕Less likely to help
People with other cancer types, early-stage disease not receiving systemic immunotherapy, those ineligible for PD-1/PD-L1 drugs, or unable to undergo required biopsies are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If you join, you'll receive a Hedgehog-pathway inhibitor together with standard PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint therapy as part of a multi-center phase Ib protocol. Doctors will collect tumor biopsies and blood samples before and after treatment to track changes in tumor-associated macrophages and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. The team will closely monitor safety, side effects, and early signs that the combination shrinks tumors or increases immune activity. Results will guide whether this combination can make immunotherapy work better for more patients with NSCLC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help more people with non-small cell lung cancer respond to immunotherapy and prolong tumor control or survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical laboratory and animal studies showed that Hedgehog blockade plus PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition improved CD8 T cell function and tumor control, but this combination is now entering early human testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Owen, Dwight H. — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Owen, Dwight H.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting GARP-TGFβ to Improve Immunotherapy in NSCLC
A new antibody approach aims to block a key TGFβ-related pathway in the tumor environment to help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better to therapy.
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Targeting DHX9 to boost viral-like immune response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
A scientist team is testing whether blocking a protein called DHX9 can make aggressive small cell lung cancer more visible to the immune system and more responsive to immunotherapy.
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Integrated blood and radiomics to guide immunotherapy in metastatic NSCLC
A research project aims to use blood tests and advanced imaging patterns to personalize first-line immunotherapy choices for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
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Improving Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer with CT Scans
This work aims to find new ways to predict which non-small cell lung cancer patients will respond best to immunotherapy using information from their routine CT scans.
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Using CT scans and patient tests to predict who will benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy
A computer tool combines CT scan features, blood and tumor markers, and clinical data to predict which people with advanced lung or bladder cancer are likely to benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy.
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Blocking a protein called GARP to help the immune system fight non-small cell lung cancer
A new antibody that targets GARP is being developed to reduce immune-suppressing TGFβ in tumors and help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better to immunotherapy.
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.