HLA-B44 genetic markers to predict long-term benefit from PD-1 immunotherapy in lung cancer

HLA B44 motif neoepitopes in NSCLC: Evaluating their effects on the TME and adding them to established markers in a model to predict durable benefit from PD- 1 inhibition with and without chemotherapy

NIH-funded research University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11160793

This project looks at whether certain HLA-B44-related tumor changes can help predict which people with non-small cell lung cancer will get lasting benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Los Angeles NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, United States)
Project IDNIH-11160793 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have non-small cell lung cancer, researchers will look for a specific kind of tumor change called HLA-B44 motif neoepitopes in your tumor or tumor samples. They will analyze public tumor data and surgical tumor samples to see how these changes affect the tumor’s immune environment using gene expression tests and detailed tissue imaging. The team aims to add these HLA-B44 markers to existing prediction tools to better identify who might have a durable response to PD‑1 drugs given alone or with chemotherapy. This work focuses on people with HLA-B44 types, which are common across many racial and ethnic groups.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with non-small cell lung cancer, especially those whose HLA type includes B44 and who are eligible for PD‑1 immunotherapy with or without chemotherapy.

Not a fit: People without non-small cell lung cancer or whose tumors do not have HLA-B44 motif neoepitopes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help doctors predict who is likely to have a long-lasting response to PD‑1 immunotherapy and guide personalized treatment choices.

How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical observations have linked HLA-related neoepitopes with better responses to PD‑1 drugs, but the detailed immune changes and predictive use of these markers remain largely untested.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.