EBV-targeting immune T cells and checkpoint immunotherapy in nasopharyngeal cancer
Official title: The roles of EBV-specific T cells in response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy of EBV-driven nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11159807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how EBV-specific T cells change during combination checkpoint immunotherapy and whether those changes relate to outcomes for people with EBV-driven nasopharyngeal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $615,760 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264646-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma, especially those newly diagnosed or enrolled in the ipilimumab plus nivolumab trial.
✕Less likely to help
People whose tumors are not EBV-driven, those not receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy, or patients unable to attend participating centers are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze blood and tumor samples from people with EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma drawn from two Singaporean patient groups, including a phase II trial of ipilimumab plus nivolumab. They will track EBV-specific T cells over time, studying their traits and clonal makeup before, during, and after treatment. The team will compare these immune patterns with clinical outcomes to look for signals that predict who benefits or who does not. Samples are collected at treating centers in Singapore and analyzed by the research team to link immune behavior to patient responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal immune markers that help predict who will benefit from checkpoint combinations and guide better, more personalized treatments for EBV-driven NPC.
How similar studies have gone: Single-agent anti–PD-1 therapy has shown modest response rates in NPC (around 20%), while combination checkpoint regimens and EBV-directed cellular approaches are being explored but are not yet proven for NPC.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newell, Evan — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Newell, Evan
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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.