Restoring responses to immunotherapy in metastatic lymph nodes in head and neck cancer
Official title: Restoring responses to immunotherapy in metastatic lymph nodes in HNSCC
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11510384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical research project aims to improve how immunotherapy works when cancer has spread to lymph nodes in head and neck cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $684,832 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE035887-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11510384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose disease involves regional lymph nodes and who are candidates for immunotherapy strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without lymph node metastases or those not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from the proposed approach.
What this research studies
This study focuses on why immune therapies sometimes fail when cancer has spread to lymph nodes and looks for ways to boost T cell responses there. Researchers will examine how T cells and dendritic cells interact in metastatic lymph nodes after immunotherapy and test strategies to enhance that response. The goal is to translate findings into new approaches that help more patients achieve lasting benefit from treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with head and neck cancer may experience stronger and more durable responses to immunotherapy, potentially reducing recurrences.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that enhancing T cell responses in lymph nodes can improve immunotherapy outcomes in some cancers, but metastatic lymph nodes remain a challenge, making this approach both grounded and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spitzer, Matthew — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Spitzer, Matthew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Biomarkers for who will respond to immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
A team at the University of Pittsburgh is studying biomarkers to predict which people with head and neck cancer will respond to immunotherapies that target PD-1 and LAG-3.
-
Hypoxia and metabolism as targets to improve immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
This grant tests new combinations of metabolic drugs with immunotherapy to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
-
Enhancing Dendritic Cell Movement to Lymph Nodes to Improve Immunotherapy in HPV-negative Head and Neck Cancer
This grant aims to help people with HPV-negative head and neck cancer respond better to immunotherapy by guiding immune cells to the right lymph nodes.
-
Targeting LAG3 to improve pre-surgery immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
This grant tests a combination immunotherapy before surgery to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
-
Markers that predict response to LAG3 and PD‑1 immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
This project looks for tumor and blood markers to help predict which people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma will respond to PD‑1 and LAG‑3 immunotherapies.
-
Targeting low oxygen and abnormal metabolism to help immunotherapy work better in head and neck cancer
This research tests whether changing tumor oxygen levels and metabolism can help immunotherapy work better for people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.
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.