Improving melanoma treatment through better patient selection and combination therapies
Official title: SPORE in Skin Cancer
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-10913366 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to improve melanoma treatment by finding blood tests that can help doctors decide if patients should get one type of immunotherapy or a combination of treatments, aiming to minimize side effects and also testing a new therapy for those who don’t respond to the usual treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,257,242 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA261608-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913366 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include high-risk melanoma patients who are considering immunotherapy options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with melanoma who are not eligible for immunotherapy or those with advanced disease stages may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing melanoma treatment by identifying effective biomarkers that can help determine whether patients should receive single-agent or combination immunotherapy. It aims to reduce unnecessary exposure to the side effects of combination therapies by using blood-based measurements to predict patient responses to anti-PD-1 antibody treatments. Additionally, the research explores a new combination therapy that targets the autophagy pathway, potentially benefiting patients who do not respond to standard anti-PD-1 treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment options for melanoma patients, minimizing side effects and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using biomarkers for patient selection in immunotherapy, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herlyn, Meenhard F — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Herlyn, Meenhard F
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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.