Hypoxia and metabolism as targets to improve immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
Official title: Project 1: Hypoxia and metabolic dysregulation as a targetable barrier to immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11404946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests new combinations of metabolic drugs with immunotherapy to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2004 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $302,387 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA097190-20 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are eligible for anti-PD-1–based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on the studied metabolic pathways or who are not candidates for the proposed trial designs may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have head and neck cancer that has come back or spread, this research explores how low oxygen in tumors and altered metabolism may make immunotherapy less effective. The study will use patient samples and clinical trials to see how metabolism, hypoxia, and immune cells interact in tumors. Researchers plan to test two new clinical trials: one combining metabolic modulators with anti-PD-1 therapy, and another combining anti-PD-1 with additional immune-targeting drugs. The goal is to identify ways to overcome resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to smarter treatment options that help more patients respond to immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked tumor metabolism and hypoxia to immune resistance, with early signals suggesting combining metabolic strategies with immunotherapy could help.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgoffe, Greg M. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Delgoffe, Greg M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting low oxygen and abnormal metabolism to help immunotherapy work better in head and neck cancer
This research tests whether changing tumor oxygen levels and metabolism can help immunotherapy work better for people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
-
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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Biomarker test to predict immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer
A multi-site study aims to validate blood-based and immune biomarkers to predict which head and neck cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy.
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Personalized vaccine plus anti-PD-1 for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer
A personalized vaccine made from each patient's tumor is combined with anti‑PD‑1 immunotherapy for adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
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Using data science to identify aggressive cancer types and predict survival in head and neck cancer without HPV.
This study is looking at a type of throat and neck cancer that isn't caused by HPV, and it aims to use new data techniques to better understand how different tissue types affect survival, which could help doctors make more personalized treatment choices for patients.
-
Personalized vaccine therapy combined with anti-PD-1 treatment for head and neck cancer
This study is testing a new treatment for people with recurring or advanced head and neck cancer by using a personalized vaccine made from their own tumor cells, combined with a medication that helps the immune system fight the cancer better.
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.