Finding clues in tissue to improve kidney cancer treatment
Official title: Tissue-based biomarkers of anti-PD-1-based therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11094731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for clues in tumor tissue to understand why some patients with advanced kidney cancer respond to immunotherapy and others do not.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $713,011 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266424-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are considering or undergoing anti-PD-1 based immunotherapy are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer is not renal cell carcinoma or who are not candidates for anti-PD-1 based therapy may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Immunotherapy has brought hope to many with advanced kidney cancer, but it doesn't work for everyone. Our goal is to uncover the reasons behind these different responses by closely examining tumor tissue. We are focusing on specific markers, such as certain viral elements called ERVs and the behavior of immune cells like CD8+ T cells within the tumor. By understanding these factors, we hope to learn what makes the immune system more effective at fighting cancer. This knowledge could lead to better ways to predict who will benefit most from current treatments and help develop new ones.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors predict which patients will respond best to current immunotherapies and guide the development of new, more effective treatments for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous analyses have shown associations between certain markers, like ERVE-4 expression, and response to immunotherapy in kidney cancer patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choueiri, Toni — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Choueiri, Toni
Related research
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Understanding how kidney cancer spreads to bone and how to fight it
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Biomarkers to predict and understand response to anti-PD-1 therapy in metastatic kidney cancer
This grant tests tissue clues like immune cells and tumor targets to figure out why some patients with metastatic kidney cancer respond to anti-PD-1 therapy while others do not.
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Identifying biomarkers for effective immunotherapy in kidney cancer
This study is looking at how certain markers in tissue samples can help doctors figure out which patients with advanced kidney cancer are most likely to respond well to a specific immunotherapy treatment, so they can tailor the best care for each person.
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Engineering immunogenic cell death to boost melanoma and kidney cancer therapy
This grant supports research aimed at making melanoma and kidney cancer cells die in a way that triggers a stronger immune response in patients.
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Prognostic test to predict metastasis in clear cell kidney cancer
A new 12-marker biomarker test for people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma may help doctors predict which patients are at higher risk of metastasis.
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.