Combining EphrinB2 inhibition with PD-1 therapy for bladder cancer treatment.
Official title: Synergistic immune response after EphrinB2 inhibition & PD-1 antibody therapy in urothelial carcinoma.
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11134306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer that combines two therapies to see if it helps patients who usually don’t respond well to current options, focusing on those with specific levels of certain proteins in their tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $712,735 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA293348-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who express EphrinB2 and have low or no levels of Nectin4.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with bladder cancer who do not express EphrinB2 or have high levels of Nectin4 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) by combining a novel EphrinB2 inhibitor with PD-1 antibody therapy. The study aims to target patients who have low or no levels of Nectin4 and high levels of EphrinB2, as these patients typically do not respond well to existing immunotherapies. By conducting a phase II randomized trial, the researchers will assess the effectiveness of this combination in improving overall survival and response rates compared to standard treatments. Patients will be monitored for their immune response and tumor progression throughout the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with resistant forms of bladder cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar combinations of immunotherapy and targeted agents, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sadeghi, Sarmad — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Sadeghi, Sarmad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding bladder cancer biology to find new biomarkers and therapies
A study at Tuskegee University will look at the molecules inside high-grade bladder cancer to discover new markers and potential treatment targets.
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Improved 3D guidance for kidney-sparing endoscopic UTUC treatment
A Vanderbilt team is testing a new 3D-guided approach to precisely locate and treat upper tract urothelial cancer during kidney-sparing endoscopic procedures.
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Immune cells in bladder cancer: predicting who benefits from stronger pre-surgery therapy
This grant aims to find immune clues in muscle-invasive bladder cancer to identify which patients will best respond to intensified pre-surgery treatment.
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Synergistic immune boost for bladder cancer with EphrinB2 blocker and PD-1 therapy
A phase II trial tests whether a new EphrinB2 blocker (sEphB4-HSA) plus pembrolizumab can help patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who have EphrinB2 and low Nectin4 to fight their cancer.
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HER2 PET scans to find HER2 differences and predict response to HER2-targeted therapy in bladder cancer
This project uses a PET scan that lights up HER2 to help show which people with metastatic bladder (urothelial) cancer might benefit from HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates.
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Treating bladder cancer with ARID1A gene changes
This project will develop new treatment approaches for people with bladder cancer whose tumors have changes in the ARID1A gene.
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.