Germline genetic clues for immune-related side effects from cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Assessment of germline variants associated with immune-related adverse events following immune checkpoint inhibitors
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11415733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will look at inherited genetic differences to understand why some cancer patients develop immune-related side effects from checkpoint inhibitors.
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 | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,107,257 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA293091-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer who are candidates for or currently receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing immunotherapy or without access to germline genetic testing may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will gather genetic data from about 13,000 patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors to find inherited factors linked to adverse immune reactions. Researchers will use advanced genetic analyses and combine data across many cancer types to map how these variants affect safety and possibly treatment efficacy. The goal is to help clinicians predict who is at higher risk and tailor immunotherapy to minimize harm while preserving benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to personalized immunotherapy plans that reduce irAEs while maintaining or improving cancer control.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest germline genetics influence irAEs, but this is among the largest GWAS efforts in this area, with potential for new insights.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how immune checkpoint drugs can trigger inflammatory arthritis in cancer patients
This research looks at why some cancer patients develop inflammatory arthritis after PD-1 inhibitor therapy and what could be done to prevent it.
-
Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective
This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.
-
Decoding how NSCLC patients respond and react to immunotherapy through noninvasive blood tests and tumor samples
A study in people with non-small cell lung cancer will look at blood and tumor samples to understand why some patients benefit from immunotherapy and who might have serious side effects.
-
Understanding skin reactions from immune cancer drugs and how our body’s immune system reacts to them
This grant explores why some people develop severe skin reactions when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and aims to use patient data and tissue studies to improve care.
-
Targeting NNMT in the tumor environment to make immunotherapy work better
Aiming to boost cancer treatment by blocking NNMT in the tumor’s supportive tissue so immune therapies work more effectively.
-
Using JAK inhibitors to calm autoimmune damage from cancer immunotherapy
A multi-center, early-phase trial will test whether a JAK inhibitor can help people who develop diabetes caused by cancer immunotherapy.
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.