Personalized vaccine plus anti-PD-1 for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer
Official title: Personalized vaccine immunotherapy in combination with anti-PD 1 antibody for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11300175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A personalized vaccine made from each patient's tumor is combined with anti‑PD‑1 immunotherapy for adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 18, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $619,091 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262123-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who can provide a tumor sample and are eligible for anti‑PD‑1 therapy would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with early-stage disease, those who cannot provide an adequate tumor sample, or patients with medical conditions preventing immunotherapy may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would receive a vaccine made from pieces of your own tumor called tumor membrane vesicles that are linked to immune-boosting molecules, and this vaccine would be given together with an anti‑PD‑1 immune therapy. The vaccine is individualized so it presents the unique set of tumor antigens found in your cancer. The goal is to stimulate new anti‑tumor T cells while anti‑PD‑1 drugs remove brakes on the immune system. Researchers will use your tumor tissue to make the vaccine and monitor immune and tumor responses over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could raise the number of patients who respond to anti‑PD‑1 treatment and lead to tumor shrinkage in more people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early trials combining cancer vaccines with PD‑1 blockers have shown encouraging immune responses in some cancers but limited consistent clinical benefit so far, and this personalized tumor‑membrane vaccine is a novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shin, Dong M — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Shin, Dong M
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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.