Optimizing immunoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer
Official title: Optimizing immunoradiotherapy for HNSCC
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11394504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to improve immunotherapy for head and neck cancer by studying how draining lymph nodes affect treatment with PD-1 inhibitors and targeted radiation.
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 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $664,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281285-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (especially HPV-negative cases) who are undergoing or eligible for PD-1–inhibitor therapy and/or radiotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease biology does not respond to immunotherapy or who cannot undergo lymphatic-sparing strategies may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how conventional treatments like radiation and lymph node removal interact with PD-1 immune therapy in head and neck cancer. It focuses on draining lymph nodes and the immune cells inside them that may drive or hinder the anti-tumor response. The team has preliminary data suggesting that certain lymphatic treatments can block the benefits of PD-1 inhibitors, so they will study mechanisms and test lymphatic-sparing approaches. The research will involve preclinical models and early human data to understand how immunotherapy can be better coordinated with standard therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with head and neck cancer could experience improved responses to immunotherapy and fewer therapy-related side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that lymphatic pathways and draining nodes influence immunotherapy efficacy, but results are still emerging.
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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Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
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Restoring responses to immunotherapy in metastatic lymph nodes in head and neck cancer
A clinical research project aims to improve how immunotherapy works when cancer has spread to lymph nodes in head and neck cancer patients.
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Data-driven classification of aggressive tissue traits to predict cancer outcomes in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
A clinician-science grant uses data science and AI to identify tissue patterns in HPV-negative head and neck cancer that may predict how long patients stay cancer-free.
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HNSCC, iron addiction, and potential iron-targeted therapies
This grant explores how head and neck cancer cells become dependent on iron and whether targeting iron pathways could lead to new treatments for patients with recurrent or metastatic disease.
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Targeting SREBP2 to boost radiation therapy in HPV-negative head and neck cancer
This grant aims to see if blocking SREBP2 can make radiation therapy work better for people with HPV-negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
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Axelopran added to pembrolizumab for frontline recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer
A new treatment approach combines axelopran with pembrolizumab for people with PD-L1 positive recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer to see if it improves response.
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.