Targeted radiation to help the immune system fight cancer
Precision use of radiation for in situ cancer immunization
The team is using precise radiation to turn tumors into vaccine-like triggers to help immune checkpoint drugs work better for people with cancers such as breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301924 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's viewpoint, researchers will study how radiation can make a tumor more visible to the immune system and why that works for some tumors but not others. They will focus on tumor genes, especially p53, and on the cGAS/STING immune signaling pathway using laboratory models and tumor samples. The team will combine carefully timed radiation with immune checkpoint therapies in translational experiments and analyze which tumor features predict a strong immune response. The aim is to find biomarkers and radiation approaches that could guide which patients are most likely to benefit from combining radiation with immunotherapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with solid tumors such as breast cancer who are receiving or may receive immune checkpoint drugs and who can provide tumor biopsy samples for testing, especially if their tumor has p53 changes.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not activate the cGAS/STING pathway, lack relevant p53-related changes, or who are not eligible for immunotherapy may not receive benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors choose when and how to use radiation to make immunotherapy more effective for individual patients.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies show radiation can boost immunotherapy through cGAS/STING but clinical results have been mixed, and using p53 status as a deciding factor is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demaria, Sandra — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Demaria, Sandra
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.