Lung bacteria linked to immune response and immunotherapy in lung cancer
Local microbiota signatures of pro-tumor immunity and checkpoint inhibition susceptibility in lung cancer
Looks at whether certain bacteria in the lower airways are tied to how people with non-small cell lung cancer respond to PD-1 immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261045 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join people with non-small cell lung cancer who are receiving PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy and be followed over time. Doctors will collect lower airway samples (for example bronchoscopy or sputum), stool, and blood at multiple visits and use 16S rRNA sequencing to map the bacterial communities. The team will search for a microbial pattern called pneumotypeSPT and measure immune signals in the tumor and blood to see how the microbiome relates to inflammation. They will link these microbiome and immune findings to progression-free survival to see if lung bacteria predict treatment benefit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with non-small cell lung cancer who are scheduled to receive or are receiving PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy and can provide airway, stool, and blood samples are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without NSCLC, those not receiving immune checkpoint therapy, or individuals unable or unwilling to undergo airway sampling (bronchoscopy or sputum collection) may not receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who is most likely to benefit from PD-1 immunotherapy and point to microbiome-based ways to improve responses.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked gut bacteria to immunotherapy response with promising associations, but studying the lower airway microbiome in lung cancer is newer and less proven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas
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 below.