Precision CT imaging to guide personalized treatment for oropharyngeal (throat) cancer
Official title: Precision imaging for risk stratification and personalized therapy of oropharyngeal cancer
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11311314 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The project uses CT scans and AI to better predict which people with oropharyngeal (throat) cancer may need less or more intensive treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $606,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE030894-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311314 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with oropharyngeal (throat) cancer—especially those with known HPV status—who have diagnostic CT scans and clinical records available at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
People without CT imaging of their tumor, with cancers outside the oropharynx, or those with clinical profiles that already require aggressive therapy may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you have oropharyngeal (throat) cancer, this work looks at CT images and clinical records to learn patterns linked to how the cancer behaves. The team combines hand-crafted imaging features that capture tumor shape and spread with deep-learning models trained on a large, multi-institution dataset of 1,771 patients. They then link the imaging models with clinical details like HPV status and smoking history to make personalized risk predictions. The goal is to help doctors choose safer, less toxic treatments for people unlikely to need full-intensity therapy while keeping high cure rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could spare some patients unnecessary aggressive treatment and reduce long-term side effects while keeping survival high.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical trials have tested treatment de-intensification for HPV-positive throat cancer and early radiomics/deep-learning studies show promise, but combining large-scale imaging features with AI for individualized decisions is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Ruijiang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Li, Ruijiang
Related research
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AI-powered predictor for chemoradiation response in Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
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OPC Survivor: Optimizing Long-Term Health After Oropharyngeal Cancer
This program studies how to improve long-term health and quality of life for adults treated for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
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Optimizing HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer treatment by selecting patients and reducing therapy intensity
This grant explores whether we can choose the right patients with HPV-positive throat cancer for less intensive, less toxic treatment while maintaining excellent outcomes.
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Biological factors behind different outcomes in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer
This project looks at why some people with HPV-positive throat cancer have better or worse survival, by studying tumor biology in a large Cleveland patient group.
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Understanding how oral high-risk HPV progresses in people with HIV to prevent oropharyngeal cancer
This study follows HIV patients at high risk for HPV-related throat cancer to understand how oral HPV infections start and change over time, with the goal of catching precancer early.
-
Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
A non-invasive oral gargle test is being developed to detect HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer at early stages, helping people at risk catch cancer sooner.
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.