Finding clues in tissue to improve kidney cancer treatment
Tissue-based biomarkers of anti-PD-1-based therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
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 ID | NIH-11094731 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are considering or undergoing anti-PD-1 based immunotherapy are the focus of this research.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choueiri, Toni — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Choueiri, Toni
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 below.