Boosting the immune system to shrink tumors during radiation plus IAP-blocking drugs
Systemic/Abscopal Anti-Tumor Immune Responses during IAP Antagonism and Radiation
This work tests whether adding IAP-blocking drugs to radiation can spark immune responses that help shrink head and neck tumors and distant cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325441 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team combines radiation with drugs that block inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) and sometimes with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy to try to turn the treated tumor into an in-place vaccine. They will examine tumor samples, tumor-draining lymph nodes, blood, and archived biospecimens to track antigen presentation and T-cell activation. The project uses both animal models and human tissue/blood from first-in-human cases to understand when and why the distant (abscopal) effect occurs. The goal is to find combination approaches that strengthen systemic anti-tumor immunity and inform future patient trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with locally advanced head and neck cancer who are receiving radiation and might be eligible for combined immunotherapy or biospecimen participation.
Not a fit: Patients without head and neck cancer or those who are not receiving radiation or immunotherapy are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make radiation more likely to trigger immune attacks on both treated and untreated tumors, improving control of head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Some preclinical work and early clinical combinations of radiation with checkpoint drugs have produced occasional abscopal responses, and prior preclinical data suggest IAP antagonists can enhance those effects, but broad patient benefit has been limited so far.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmitt, Nicole Cherie — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Schmitt, Nicole Cherie
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.