Modeling immune responses in tumor organoids to improve cancer treatment

Immunotherapy Modeling in Organoids Co-preserving Tumor and Infiltrating Immune Compartments

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11035173

This study is looking at how cancer cells and immune cells work together using special lab-grown mini tumors from patients, to find out how well different treatments, like anti-PD-1 antibodies, can help the immune system fight cancer, which could lead to better therapies for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11035173 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how tumor cells interact with the immune system using advanced organoid technology. By creating patient-derived tumor organoids that include both tumor cells and immune cells, researchers aim to better understand the immune response to cancer therapies like anti-PD-1 antibodies. The organoids preserve the original tumor's characteristics and allow for testing how well immune cells can attack the tumor when exposed to various treatments. This approach could lead to more effective immunotherapies by identifying which patients are likely to respond to specific treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with tumors that can be biopsied and who are undergoing immunotherapy treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with tumors that are not amenable to biopsy or those who are not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective cancer immunotherapies for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar organoid models in understanding tumor-immune interactions, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.