How HPV-targeting immune cells affect immunotherapy responses in HPV-positive head and neck cancer
Official title: Mechanistic connection between HPV-specific TCRs and therapeutic responses to ICI in HPV+ HNSCC
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11306668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether specific HPV-targeting T cells help people with HPV-positive head and neck cancer respond better to immune checkpoint drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,244 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282074-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially those treated with or being considered for immune checkpoint inhibitors or willing to provide tumor or blood samples, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with HPV-negative head and neck cancer or those not eligible for immunotherapy or unable to provide tissue or blood samples are unlikely to be included or benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would be asked to let researchers study tumor and blood samples from people with HPV-positive head and neck cancer who received immune checkpoint therapy. The team will map T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize different HPV proteins (for example E2, E6, and E7) and compare the breadth and depth of those responses with patients' treatment outcomes. They will also test selected TCRs in mouse models to see which HPV-directed T cells control tumors or work together with checkpoint drugs. Combining human clinical samples and laboratory models aims to reveal which HPV-specific immune responses help or limit immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who will benefit from checkpoint inhibitors and guide development of HPV-targeted T-cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical and laboratory work shows HPV-positive tumors can respond well to anti-PD1 and that HPV-specific T-cell approaches (mostly targeting E7) have promise, but directly linking specific HPV-TCR patterns—including E2 responses—to immunotherapy outcomes is a newer, mechanistic question.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jing Hong — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jing Hong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
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Restoring responses to immunotherapy in metastatic lymph nodes in head and neck cancer
A clinical research project aims to improve how immunotherapy works when cancer has spread to lymph nodes in head and neck cancer patients.
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Data-driven classification of aggressive tissue traits to predict cancer outcomes in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
A clinician-science grant uses data science and AI to identify tissue patterns in HPV-negative head and neck cancer that may predict how long patients stay cancer-free.
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HNSCC, iron addiction, and potential iron-targeted therapies
This grant explores how head and neck cancer cells become dependent on iron and whether targeting iron pathways could lead to new treatments for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.
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Targeting SREBP2 to boost radiation therapy in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
This grant aims to see if blocking SREBP2 can make radiation therapy work better for people with HPV-negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
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Axelopran added to pembrolizumab for frontline recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer
A new treatment approach combines axelopran with pembrolizumab for people with PD-L1 positive recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer to see if it improves response.
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.