Combination immunotherapy with radioligand therapy for metastatic prostate cancer
Official title: Project 1-Combination Immunotherapy with Radioligned Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11415135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study aims to help men with advanced prostate cancer by combining immune therapy with targeted radiation to boost the body’s own defense against cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,950 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA275741-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who may be eligible for radioligand and immune therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-metastatic disease or those unable to tolerate immunotherapy or radioligand therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates whether pairing immune checkpoint inhibitors with radioligand therapy can better activate immune responses against metastatic prostate cancer. It uses advanced single-cell RNA sequencing to understand how these treatments change immune cells in the tumor environment. The goal is to identify schedules and combinations that prime anti-tumor immunity while limiting immune-suppressing effects, with a focus on 177Lu-PSMA-617 and PSMA targeting. The study is conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, led by Dr. Lawrence Fong, and aims to translate findings into more effective options for patients with metastatic disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve responses and extend survival for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work suggests combining radiation with immunotherapy can enhance responses in some cancers, but this approach in metastatic prostate cancer is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fong, Lawrence — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Fong, Lawrence
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Combining targeted radioligand therapy with immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer
Seeing if adding targeted radioligand therapy to immunotherapy helps men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer by boosting the immune attack on tumors.
-
Understanding what drives lethal metastatic prostate cancer in men
This grant looks at why some prostate cancers become deadly and spread, using patient-derived cells and mouse models.
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Off-the-shelf tumor cell vaccine tailored to your tumor’s HLA type for advanced prostate cancer
A new vaccine approach uses donor cancer cells matched to a patient’s immune system to help fight advanced prostate cancer.
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Androgen deprivation as an immune boost with targeted immunotherapy for prostate cancer
This grant tests whether depriving androgens can boost the body’s immune attack against prostate cancer when combined with a vaccine-style immunotherapy.
-
ASH1L’s role in metastatic prostate cancer and its immune environment
Aims to understand how the ASH1L gene helps prostate cancer spread and how it shapes the immune environment in bone metastases so future therapies can target this process.
-
Molecular drivers of lineage changes and new therapies for metastatic prostate cancer
A multi-year study at a major university will explore how metastatic prostate cancer changes its cell type and how to target those changes to help patients.
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.