Targeted treatment for colon inflammation caused by cancer immunotherapy
Pathway-guided treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy-induced colon toxicity
This project will try treatments that target specific immune pathways to help people who develop colon inflammation (colitis) from immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143155 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'd be part of work that uses colon biopsies and blood tests from people who developed colitis after immunotherapy to find the immune signals driving their inflammation. Researchers will study immune cells and markers such as TNF-α to see which pathways are active in each person. That information will guide choices about targeted treatments (for example, anti-TNF or anti-integrin therapy) instead of a one-size-fits-all steroid approach. The goal is to resolve inflammation faster and make it safer to restart cancer immunotherapy when possible.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy who develop moderate to severe colon inflammation (biopsy-confirmed ICI-colitis) would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without immunotherapy-related colitis, those with mild symptoms that do not require targeted treatment, or patients whose colitis is caused by infection or unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to faster, more precise treatments for immunotherapy-related colitis that reduce steroid exposure and help patients resume cancer treatment sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Corticosteroids and anti-TNF therapies have helped many patients with ICI-colitis, but using biopsy- or pathway-guided selection of targeted therapies is relatively new and not yet proven in large trials.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Jennifer — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Jennifer
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.