Immune-based prevention for colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome

Cancer Immune-Interception for Lynch Syndrome

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11176214

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11176214 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: People who do not have Lynch syndrome or who already have advanced, metastatic colorectal cancer are unlikely to benefit from this prevention-focused work.

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 performed: 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

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.