Combining radiation with drugs that block TGF‑beta and PD‑L1 for recurrent head and neck cancer
Official title: Treating recurrent HNSCC with radiation and dual TGF-Beta/PD-L1.
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11180120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This tests whether adding two immune‑targeting drugs that block TGF‑beta and PD‑L1 to radiation helps people whose head and neck cancer has come back respond better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $347,137 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA261605-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with locally recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are candidates for radiation and willing to provide biopsies and blood samples are the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not eligible for radiation, have uncontrolled autoimmune disease, or whose tumors lack the relevant immune markers may not benefit.
What this research studies
If your head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has recurred, doctors will give radiation as usual and add two drugs that aim to lift immune suppression by blocking TGF‑beta and PD‑L1. The team will collect tumor biopsies and blood samples to measure immune cells and levels of TGF‑beta and PD‑L1 before and after treatment. Researchers hope the combination will boost the radiation‑triggered anti‑tumor immune response and reduce treatment resistance. The approach was promising in mouse models and will be tested in patients at the study site.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve tumor control after radiation and lower the chance of radiation resistance or spread.
How similar studies have gone: PD‑1/PD‑L1 drugs are FDA‑approved for recurrent HNSCC but have low response rates, and combining TGF‑beta blockade with PD‑L1 has shown promise in preclinical models but is not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xiao-Jing — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xiao-Jing
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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.