Targeted radiation combined with an immune‑boosting drug for CEA‑positive cancers
Targeted radiation and immunocytokine therapy for CEA positive malignancies
Researchers are combining targeted radiation with a tumor‑directed immune booster to help people with CEA‑positive cancers, such as some colon and breast cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177653 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join this work, I would receive focused image‑guided radiation or a systemically delivered targeted radioactive treatment followed shortly by a tumor‑directed immunocytokine (an immune‑boosting drug that seeks cancer cells expressing CEA). The team plans two early clinical trials—one using image‑guided radiotherapy plus immunocytokine and one using targeted alpha therapy—plus laboratory studies comparing immune cells in biopsy samples taken before and after treatment. Doctors will look at immune changes in the tumor, including increases in IFNγ‑producing CD8 T cells and decreases in Foxp3+ regulatory CD4 T cells, to see whether the tumor becomes more responsive to immune attack. Some parallel animal and lab work will refine timing and dosing before combining both approaches in a future trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people whose tumors express carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), such as certain colorectal or breast cancer patients, who can safely receive radiation and undergo tumor biopsies.
Not a fit: People whose cancers do not express CEA, who cannot tolerate radiation or biopsy procedures, or who have medical conditions that make the treatments unsafe are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immune‑resistant CEA‑positive tumors respond better to therapy and potentially improve tumor control and remission times.
How similar studies have performed: Combining radiation with untargeted checkpoint immunotherapy has shown promise in prior studies, but using targeted immunocytokines and targeted alpha therapy together is a newer approach with limited clinical data so far.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shively, John Ernest — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Shively, John Ernest
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 below.