Neoadjuvant immunoradiotherapy for HPV-related throat cancer
Official title: Neoadjuvant immunoradiotherapy for HPV mediated oropharynx cancer
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11377117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach combines targeted radiation before surgery with PD-1 blockade to treat HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce long-term side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $618,271 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281286-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer considered for neoadjuvant therapy and surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with contraindications to radiation or PD-1 inhibitors or those not eligible for surgery may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant investigates whether giving a short course of radiation to the tumor and draining lymphatics before surgery, along with a PD-1 inhibitor, can boost the body’s immune response against HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. The goal is to increase treatment effectiveness while avoiding the high long-term morbidity of current nonsurgical regimens. Researchers will study how this combination affects tumor immunity, room for side-by-side comparisons, and which patients might benefit most. The work builds on prior findings that lymphatic drainage and timing of therapy influence the success of immunotherapy in head and neck cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience higher response rates with potentially less damaging overall treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Early immunoradiation studies suggest potential synergy, but results are still emerging and mixed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Califano, Joseph a — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Califano, Joseph a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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An image-based test to predict risk in HPV-positive throat cancer
This project aims to develop a simple image- and molecular-based test to show which people with HPV-positive oropharynx (throat) cancer are more likely to have a recurrence so their treatment can be personalized.
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A new tumor marker (HPVhet) to predict outcomes in HPV-related throat cancer
This project looks at whether a tumor marker called HPVhet can better predict which people with HPV-positive throat cancer will do well and which might need stronger treatment.
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A test to predict outcomes for HPV-positive oropharynx (throat) cancer using tumor molecular and imaging features
This project will see if an 'HPVhet' score derived from tumor biology and routine pathology images can help predict outcomes for people with HPV-positive oropharynx cancer.
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Improving treatment for HPV-related throat cancer before surgery
This research explores a new way to combine radiation and immunotherapy before surgery for people with HPV-related throat cancer.
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Detecting HPV-related throat cancer earlier in people with and without HIV
This study is looking to find better ways to detect HPV-related throat cancer early, especially for people living with HIV, by checking for certain markers in their saliva and blood, which could help improve screening methods in the future.
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Finding a new way to predict outcomes for patients with oropharynx cancer
This study is looking to find a new way to help doctors predict how oropharynx cancer might affect patients, especially those with HPV-positive tumors, so they can tailor treatments better and avoid giving unnecessary side effects to those who might not need them.
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.