Imaging AI tool to predict chemo-radiation response in Veterans with throat (oropharyngeal) cancer
Official title: An imaging AI-driven predictive chemoradiation response tool for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11072091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses medical images and AI to predict which Veterans with oropharyngeal (throat) cancer are likely to respond to chemo‑radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01CX002776-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with newly diagnosed oropharyngeal (throat) cancer who receive care and have imaging and pathology available through participating VA centers are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Non-Veterans, people with cancers outside the oropharynx, or patients without accessible VA imaging or pathology records are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
This work will combine CT and other radiology images, pathology images, and clinical records to train an AI model that predicts chemo‑radiation response for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer. Researchers will build the model using data from about 1,000 patients treated across six VA tertiary medical centers. The approach aims to classify patients into lower- and higher-risk groups so treatment intensity can be matched to tumor biology. If successful, the tool could be used across the VA to help guide safer, more targeted treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help VA clinicians personalize treatment so some Veterans avoid unnecessary toxic therapy while others receive more aggressive care earlier.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller studies using radiomic and pathomic AI methods have shown encouraging results in predicting response in oropharyngeal cancer, but this VA-focused effort is larger and aims to improve reliability across Veterans.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sandulache, Vlad C — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Sandulache, Vlad C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AI-powered predictor for chemoradiation response in Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
A new AI-based tool will help doctors tailor chemoradiation for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer by predicting how each patient will respond to treatment.
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OPC Survivor: Optimizing Long-Term Health After Oropharyngeal Cancer
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This study follows HIV patients at high risk for HPV-related throat cancer to understand how oral HPV infections start and change over time, with the goal of catching precancer early.
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Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
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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.