How tumors trigger side effects from anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapy
Role of the tumor NLRP3 inflammasome in the generation of anti-PD-1 antibody immunotherapy-associated toxicities
This research looks at how signals from tumors cause immune side effects like lung and bowel inflammation in people treated with anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126895 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using tumor models and laboratory studies to trace a tumor signal (a PD‑L1:NLRP3:HSP70 pathway) that attracts neutrophils to organs such as the lungs and colon after anti‑PD‑1 treatment. In mice with engineered melanoma they observed lung and colon inflammation that resembles the pneumonitis and colitis some patients develop on checkpoint inhibitors. The team has shown that removing or blocking parts of this tumor pathway can reduce those inflammatory side effects in animals and now aims to define the mechanism and identify targets that could prevent or limit toxicities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving or considering anti‑PD‑1 or similar checkpoint inhibitor treatments—especially those worried about pneumonitis or colitis—would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients not treated with checkpoint inhibitors or whose symptoms are caused by non-immune conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify ways to prevent or reduce immune-related side effects so more patients can safely receive checkpoint immunotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical studies have implicated inflammasomes and heat-shock proteins in immune inflammation, so this project builds on promising animal-model findings but remains early and translational.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hanks, Brent Allen — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hanks, Brent Allen
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.