Immune-based prevention for colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome
Official title: Cancer Immune-Interception for Lynch Syndrome
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11176214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to harness immune-targeting approaches and a common anti-inflammatory pill to help prevent colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $672,260 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA257375-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with Lynch syndrome (germline mismatch-repair gene mutation), especially those without advanced colorectal cancer who are eligible for prevention-focused interventions.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have Lynch syndrome or who already have advanced, metastatic colorectal cancer are unlikely to benefit from this prevention-focused work.
What this research studies
If you have Lynch syndrome, the team is identifying shared abnormal proteins (neoantigens) that appear when cells lose DNA mismatch repair and turn these into immune targets. They are cataloguing the most frequent neoantigens from precancerous and tumor tissue and developing immune-based prevention approaches such as vaccines. The researchers are also testing whether naproxen, a widely used NSAID, can boost local immune cell activation in the colon to make those immune approaches work better. Blood and tissue samples and biomarker tests from people with Lynch syndrome will be collected to track immune responses and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower the risk or delay the onset of colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work, including an NCI-supported Phase Ib in Lynch patients, showed naproxen can increase local immune activation, but neoantigen-targeted immune prevention approaches are still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vilar Sanchez, Eduardo — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Vilar Sanchez, Eduardo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immune clues to prevent cancer in Lynch Syndrome
A study exploring how immune signals and shared neoantigens in Lynch Syndrome could help prevent cancer by training the immune system to recognize and fight premalignant lesions.
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Personalized, Noninvasive Surveillance for Lynch Syndrome Colorectal Cancer
This project tests a noninvasive fecal test (FIT) alongside colonoscopy to tailor colorectal cancer surveillance for people with Lynch syndrome.
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Behavioral tool to boost pre-test genetic counseling for Lynch syndrome families
A risk-based program helps families at risk for Lynch syndrome get pre-test counseling more often, so they can learn about genetic testing and cancer prevention.
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Cancer vaccines for Lynch syndrome in a non-human primate model
A researcher is testing a vaccine approach to help prevent Lynch syndrome–related cancers by training the immune system to recognize cancer-causing changes in the colon using a primate model.
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Neoantigen vaccine for Lynch syndrome immune interception
A study to test a vaccine that teaches the immune system to recognize cancer-causing mutations in people with Lynch syndrome.
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Personalized colorectal cancer screening for people with Lynch syndrome
This project aims to find the best colonoscopy schedule for people with Lynch syndrome based on their specific gene.
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.