Improving drug delivery for safer cancer treatment using radiation
Official title: Imaging radiation-enhanced drug delivery for safer and more effective chemoradiotherapy
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11127053 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using radiation therapy can help make chemotherapy work better for people with advanced head and neck cancers, aiming to improve treatment results while reducing side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 11, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $662,516 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA291779-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127053 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or anaplastic thyroid cancer who are undergoing chemoradiotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancers or those not receiving chemoradiotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how radiation therapy can enhance the delivery of chemotherapy specifically to tumors, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and anaplastic thyroid cancer. By examining the effects of radiation on the tumor microenvironment, the study aims to identify ways to increase the effectiveness of drug delivery while minimizing side effects. The approach includes advanced imaging techniques and immune response analysis in both mouse models and patient-derived samples. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a safer and more effective combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promise in enhancing drug delivery through radiation, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Miles a — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Miller, Miles a
Related research
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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.