Immune therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma
Official title: Immunobiology and Immune Therapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11094603 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops and tests new immune-based treatments to help people with Merkel cell carcinoma, especially those whose cancers no longer respond to PD‑1 drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,994,993 |
| NIH project number | 2P01CA225517-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11094603 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Merkel cell carcinoma, especially those who have not responded to or have relapsed after PD‑1/PD‑L1 immunotherapy, are the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without Merkel cell carcinoma, patients whose disease is already cured, or those who cannot receive immunotherapy for medical reasons are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You'll be connected to a Seattle team that studies how the immune system fights Merkel cell carcinoma and why some tumors stop responding to immunotherapy. The researchers use patient blood and tumor samples, T- and B-cell sequencing, and other immune-mapping tools from a large specimen and data repository. They also run and expand clinical trials of immune-targeting treatments aimed at patients who did not get lasting benefit from PD‑1 pathway drugs. Collaborators at other centers help offer these options more broadly and match patients to promising approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could restore immune control of tumors and provide new treatment options for patients whose Merkel cell carcinoma stopped responding to current immunotherapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of PD‑1 pathway blockers have helped many MCC patients, but this project aims to find new strategies for people who did not respond to those treatments.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nghiem, Paul — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Nghiem, Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immunobiology and Immunotherapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
A team at the University of Washington is advancing how the immune system fights a rare skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma and testing new immune-based treatments to help patients who don’t respond to existing therapies.
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New therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma and its immune environment
A cancer grant is testing a drug that may boost immune therapies and help patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who don’t respond to current treatments.
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Understanding how Merkel cell skin cancer develops
This research explores how a specific virus causes Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.
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New treatments for Merkel cell carcinoma
This research looks for new ways to treat Merkel cell carcinoma, a serious skin cancer, especially for patients who don't respond to current therapies.
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Investigating a new treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma
This study is looking at a type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, especially in older Veterans, to see how a specific protein affects the cancer and to test a new treatment that could help those who can't use current therapies.
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Understanding why some patients with Merkel cell carcinoma resist immunotherapy
This study is looking into why some people with Merkel cell carcinoma, a tough type of skin cancer, don’t respond well to immunotherapy, and it hopes to find clues that could help improve treatment for those patients.
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.