Blocking EphB4–ephrinB2 to lower immune suppression in head and neck cancer

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

From a patient perspective, researchers are studying a molecule pair (EphB4 on immune cells and EFNB2 on tumor blood vessels) that may let suppressive immune cells enter and protect head and neck tumors. They will use laboratory and preclinical work, plus tumor samples, to see how radiation changes EFNB2 on blood vessels and how blocking this pathway affects regulatory T cells and tumor-associated macrophages. The team will test a blocking agent (TNYL-RAW) and genetic approaches in models and human-derived specimens to see if the tumor environment becomes less suppressive. The goal is to find ways to make radiation and immune-based treatments work better for patients whose tumors resist therapy.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of Colorado Denver
  Aurora, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Karam, Sana D — University of Colorado Denver
• Study coordinator: Karam, Sana D

Related research

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About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.