Enhancing Rectal Cancer Immunotherapy with Radiation-Induced Senescence and PTPN2 Inhibition
Official title: Leveraging Radiation-Induced Senescence and PTPN2 Inhibition to Enhance Immune-Mediated Tumor Control in Rectal Cancer
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11394578 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores a combo approach using radiation and a targeted inhibitor to boost the body's immune attack on rectal cancer, aiming to preserve the organ and reduce long-term side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,398 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA304010-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394578 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with rectal cancer where organ-preserving strategies are a priority and who could participate in future immunotherapy or radiotherapy studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers outside the rectum or those unable to receive radiotherapy or immunotherapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
Rectal cancer patients often face strong treatments that can impair organs and quality of life. The project looks at how radiation can trigger a cancer cell stress response that mobilizes the immune system, and how blocking PTPN2 may further amplify this effect. By studying tumor models and immune interactions, the researchers hope to identify a strategy that strengthens anti-tumor immunity and potentially lowers the need for invasive surgery. If successful, this work could pave the way for non-surgical options that spare the anal sphincter and improve long-term outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more effective, less invasive treatments that preserve organ function and reduce lifelong morbidity for rectal cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that radiation can modulate the immune environment, and combining it with immune-modulating strategies has shown promise in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Romesser, Paul Bernard — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Romesser, Paul Bernard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Molecular Characterization of Radiation Effects in Rectal Cancer
A patient-facing platform study aims to link tissue changes, imaging, and the immune system during radiotherapy for rectal cancer to improve future treatments.
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Immune System and Radiation in Rectal Cancer
This grant supports a small international study to understand how radiation therapy interacts with the immune system in rectal cancer by collecting tumor, blood, stool, and lymph node samples from patients before and after treatment.
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Targeting tryptophan metabolism to improve rectal cancer treatment
This NIH grant is exploring a new way to help people with locally advanced rectal cancer by combining radiation with a drug that blocks a pathway our immune system uses to protect tumors.
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Time-restricted eating during rectal cancer treatment to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes
A clinical trial tests whether eating only within a set time window during cancer treatment can reduce side effects and help treatments work better for rectal cancer patients.
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Early response to radiotherapy and immunotherapy in rectal cancer
A new approach combines short-course radiation, chemotherapy, and an immune therapy antibody to try to shrink rectal cancers before surgery or avoid surgery altogether.
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Harnessing treatment-induced tumor evolution in rectal cancer using a patient-centered co-clinical platform
A Duke-led program tests how rectal cancers change during treatment to uncover new ways to improve outcomes for patients who might avoid surgery or have better responses.
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.