Combining demethylation and immune therapy to help HPV+ throat cancer respond better
Official title: Project 3: Combining demethylation and reverse transcriptase inhibition to prime for immune checkpoint suppression in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11265319 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to boost immune checkpoint therapy in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer by using a demethylating drug to make tumors more visible to the immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $202,222 |
| NIH project number | 9P50DE036901-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11265319 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who are candidates for neoadjuvant immune checkpoint therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not respond to demethylating strategies or who cannot tolerate immune checkpoint inhibitors may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates whether adding a demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, can make HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers more responsive to anti-PD-1 therapy. The team plans to explore how demethylation affects tumor cells and the immune environment, including how it may reduce HPV protein activity and boost interferon signaling. By making cancer cells easier for the immune system to recognize, treatment could lead to stronger responses and possibly reduce the need for extensive postoperative therapy. The work combines preclinical evidence with clinical insights to design strategies that enhance immunotherapy effectiveness in this cancer type.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase the rate of tumor shrinkage before surgery and improve overall survival for patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest that demethylating agents can enhance immune recognition and improve responses to immunotherapy in HPV-related cancers, supporting further study.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yarbrough, Wendell G — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Yarbrough, Wendell G
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Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
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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.