Lower-dose, personalized treatment for HPV-positive throat cancer
Official title: Project 2: Optimizing patient selection and deintensified therapy for human papillomavirus positive (HPV+) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC)
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11192279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for ways to safely give gentler treatment to people with HPV-positive throat cancer by finding who truly needs full chemo and radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2004 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $381,032 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA097190-19 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer who are candidates for trans-oral surgery or who are being considered for reduced post-surgery radiation/chemotherapy are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-HPV throat cancers or those already known to have high-risk nodal disease that requires full-dose chemoradiation are unlikely to benefit from the de-intensification approach.
What this research studies
I have HPV-positive oropharyngeal (throat) cancer and want treatments that cause fewer long-term problems. This project uses trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) together with detailed tumor testing — including gene mutations, RNA patterns, and advanced imaging features — to identify patients at high risk of cancer in the neck nodes. Investigators have identified a four-gene mutational signature linked to high-risk neck disease and are combining that with radiomic and transcriptomic data to improve selection before or after surgery. The team aims to use these findings to decide who can safely receive lower-dose post-surgery therapy and who still needs standard higher-dose chemoradiation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could spare many patients from harsh chemo and high-dose radiation and reduce long-term swallowing, speech, and other toxicities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials like ECOG 3311 showed excellent survival with surgery-based de-intensification, but using a combined genomic and radiomic signature to predict high-risk neck disease before tailoring treatment is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skinner, Heath Devin — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Skinner, Heath Devin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AI-powered predictor for chemoradiation response in Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
A new AI-based tool will help doctors tailor chemoradiation for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer by predicting how each patient will respond to treatment.
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OPC Survivor: Optimizing Long-Term Health After Oropharyngeal Cancer
This program studies how to improve long-term health and quality of life for adults treated for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
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Optimizing HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer treatment by selecting patients and reducing therapy intensity
This grant explores whether we can choose the right patients with HPV-positive throat cancer for less intensive, less toxic treatment while maintaining excellent outcomes.
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Biological factors behind different outcomes in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer
This project looks at why some people with HPV-positive throat cancer have better or worse survival, by studying tumor biology in a large Cleveland patient group.
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Understanding how oral high-risk HPV progresses in people with HIV to prevent oropharyngeal cancer
This study follows HIV patients at high risk for HPV-related throat cancer to understand how oral HPV infections start and change over time, with the goal of catching precancer early.
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Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
A non-invasive oral gargle test is being developed to detect HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer at early stages, helping people at risk catch cancer sooner.
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.