HLA-B44 motif neoepitopes in NSCLC and how they affect the tumor environment
Official title: 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
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11405014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how specific tumor mutations and HLA-B44 genetic patterns influence response to PD-1 inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer, with the goal of better predicting who benefits from immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,462 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276917-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer, particularly those with HLA-B44 alleles, and samples available for genomic and tissue analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HLA-B44 or motif neoepitopes may not experience the anticipated biomarker-driven benefits.
What this research studies
This project will look at how motif neoepitopes, caused by certain amino acid changes, interact with HLA-B44 to shape the tumor environment in NSCLC. Researchers will use data from the Cancer Genome Atlas to compare immune-related gene activity and cell types in tumors with and without motif neoepitopes. They will also analyze surgical samples from patients who have not yet received treatment using advanced imaging to map spatial immune patterns. The work aims to connect molecular features to how well PD-1 blockade works, potentially guiding personalized therapy decisions with or without chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better prediction of which NSCLC patients will achieve durable benefit from PD-1 inhibitors, possibly refining treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked PD-1 inhibitors to responses in subsets of patients based on molecular features, but this exact motif neoepitope–TME relationship is being explored in depth here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garon, Edward B — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Garon, Edward B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using HLA-B44 tumor markers to predict lasting benefit from PD-1 therapy in lung cancer
This project looks at whether specific tumor changes tied to the HLA-B44 gene can help predict which non-small cell lung cancer patients will have long-lasting responses to PD-1 immunotherapy, with or without chemotherapy.
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HLA-B44 genetic markers to predict long-term benefit from PD-1 immunotherapy in lung cancer
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.
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Investigating how specific tumor markers affect lung cancer treatment responses
This study is looking at how certain genetic markers in lung cancer tumors might affect how well a specific immunotherapy works, and it's for patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have a certain genetic type, helping to find more personalized treatment options for them.
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Investigating the effects of specific tumor markers in lung cancer treatment
This study is looking at how certain genetic markers in people with non-small cell lung cancer might affect their response to a type of immunotherapy called PD-1 inhibitors, so we can better understand which patients could benefit the most from this treatment.
-
Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly approach tests a light-activated method to make ovarian cancer metastases more sensitive to chemotherapy.
-
7-marker protein test to predict NSCLC response to anti-PD-1 therapy
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a 7-marker protein test to help predict which advanced NSCLC patients will respond to anti-PD-1 therapy.
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.