Disparities in Immunotherapy Outcomes for African Ancestry Cancer Patients in Community Settings
Official title: Disparities in REsults of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment (DiRECT): A Prospective Cohort Study of Cancer Survivors Treated with anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 in a Community Oncology Setting
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11362040 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in community clinics to understand how racial background may influence treatment results and side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,396,137 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3CA260602-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362040 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with advanced cancer who are treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapies in community oncology settings, including patients of African ancestry and European ancestry.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving ICIs or not enrolled in community oncology settings may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
In real-world, community-based cancer care, researchers will enroll patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors to observe outcomes, toxicities, and long-term quality of life. The study compares patients of African ancestry with those of European ancestry to explore differences in response and safety. Data from medical records, patient-reported outcomes, and treatment patterns will be collected over time to identify factors that influence success and challenges outside clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide more equitable treatment decisions and supportive care for African ancestry patients receiving ICIs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests racial differences in immune-related outcomes, but comprehensive community-based comparisons are limited, making this approach novel in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yao, Song — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Yao, Song
Related research
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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.