Role of the immune system in how lung cancer responds to targeted therapies
Official title: Role of Adaptive Immunity in Lung Cancer Response to Oncogene-targeted Therapeutics
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11397147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how immune cells affect how well lung cancers with specific genetic changes respond to targeted treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004751-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with lung adenocarcinoma driven by oncogenic RTKs (like EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET) who are undergoing targeted TKIs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on the studied RTK pathways or who are not receiving targeted TKIs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Lung cancers with certain genetic mutations often respond well to targeted drugs, but responses vary between patients. The project aims to understand how the body’s immune cells influence these responses and why some patients have shorter benefit from therapy. Researchers will study immune signals and how they interact with cancer cells during treatment, using human tissue samples and related analyses. Findings could point to new ways to boost the effectiveness of targeted therapies by engaging the immune system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of why some patients respond differently could lead to new strategies to improve and prolong treatment benefits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests host immunity can influence the effectiveness of precision oncology drugs, supporting potential for impactful findings.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heasley, Lynn E — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Heasley, Lynn E
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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.