Targeted radiosensitization to improve local control in advanced cancers
Official title: Molecularly Targeted Radiosensitization of Locally Advanced Cancers
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11420492 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Cancer research grant is exploring how combining radiation therapy with a targeted drug approach could better control locally advanced tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,985,638 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA269022-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420492 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with locally advanced or unresectable cancers where surgery is not an option and who may be candidates for future trial testing of combined radiotherapy and targeted systemic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not respond to the chosen targeted approach or who cannot tolerate combination therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to improve how well radiation therapy works for people with locally advanced or unresectable cancers by pairing it with systemic drugs that hit specific molecular drivers of cancer. It uses lab studies and animal models to understand why some tumors resist radiation and to identify combinations that might overcome that resistance. The work is designed to inform and enable early clinical trials to test promising approaches in patients. The research is centered at the University of Michigan and led by Dr. Theodore S. Lawrence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to more effective local tumor control and better chances of long-term remission for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that adding systemic agents to radiation can improve outcomes in some cancers, but this SPORE aims to optimize and personalize this strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrence, Theodore S — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lawrence, Theodore S
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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.