Improving radiation therapy by blocking TGFβ only inside tumors
Official title: Enhancing the efficacy of radiation by spatially restricting anti-TGFb treatment to the tumor
Funded at Providence Health & Services - Oregon · NIH-11309687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests whether blocking a protein called TGFβ only inside tumors can make radiation therapy work better for people with solid cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Providence Health & Services - Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Renton, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,976 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293806-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with solid tumors who are receiving or may receive radiation therapy, especially tumors known to activate TGFβ signaling, would be the most relevant candidates for future translated trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not treated with radiation, hematologic (blood) cancers, or tumors that do not rely on TGFβ-driven immune suppression are less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a special group of immune cells (stem-like CD8+ T cells) that help fight tumors and appear to repopulate tumors quickly after radiation. They will determine whether these stem-like T cells from nearby tumor-draining lymph nodes are needed for radiation to control tumors. The team will then combine radiation with newer TGFβ-blocking approaches that are designed to act mainly inside the tumor and spare the lymph nodes. The goal is to preserve helpful immune cells while preventing immune exhaustion and improving tumor control in lab models, with the aim of guiding safer combined treatments for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make radiation more effective against tumors while reducing the immune-suppressing side effects of blocking TGFβ throughout the body.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies combining radiation and TGFβ inhibition have shown promise, but the strategy of spatially restricting TGFβ blockade to the tumor to protect lymph-node immune cells is a newer and less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
-
Providence Health & Services - Oregon
Renton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Kristina H — Providence Health & Services - Oregon
- Study coordinator: Young, Kristina H
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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.