Boosting immune response and treatment effectiveness in cervical cancer
Research Project Cervical Cancer
Researchers are combining PET scans, tumor biopsies, and lab analyses to try to boost immune responses in people with locally advanced cervical cancer getting radiation and cisplatin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168911 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on people with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with standard pelvic radiation and cisplatin. Researchers will use FDG-PET imaging and tumor tissue collected before and after treatment to study tumor-associated macrophages and how cancer cells and immune cells share glucose and oxidative-stress pathways. They will apply single-cell and spatial molecular techniques to map which cells change after therapy and to identify metabolic signals that blunt anti-tumor immunity. The goal is to find ways to shift the tumor environment so radiation better stimulates the immune system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with newly diagnosed locally advanced cervical cancer who are receiving pelvic radiation with concurrent cisplatin and are willing to undergo PET imaging and tumor biopsies.
Not a fit: People with very early-stage disease not treated with pelvic chemoradiation, those with widespread metastatic disease, or those unable or unwilling to have imaging or biopsies are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to therapies that make radiation and chemotherapy more effective and reduce the chance of recurrence for people with locally advanced cervical cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies and PET imaging work have linked FDG uptake to tumor-associated macrophages and immune suppression, but combining metabolic and ROS-focused analyses with clinical treatment to boost immunity is an emerging and not yet proven approach in patients.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarz, Julie Kristina — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Schwarz, Julie Kristina
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 below.