Targeting NRF2 to help head and neck cancer respond better to immunotherapy
Official title: Targeting NRF2 to sensitize head and neck cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11389337 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to boost immune therapy effectiveness for head and neck cancer by blocking NRF2, a cancer support pathway, in patients whose tumors have NRF2 activation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,087 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA298329-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389337 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with NRF2 pathway activation or related immune-cold tumor features, could be candidates for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not involve NRF2 activation or who do not respond to NRF2-targeted strategies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and explores whether inhibiting NRF2 can make tumors more responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Researchers will use new cancer models and NRF2 inhibitors to test if blocking NRF2 reverses a suppressive tumor immune environment. The goal is to identify mechanisms that link NRF2 activity to poor immune response and to show that NRF2 inhibitors can sensitize tumors to immunotherapy in preclinical models. If successful, this work could guide future clinical strategies to improve outcomes for patients with HNSCC treated with ICIs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with head and neck cancer could experience improved responses to immunotherapy and better disease control.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work suggests NRF2 activity influences tumor immunity and ICI response, with ongoing efforts to translate these findings to the clinic.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Major, Michael Benjamin — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Major, Michael Benjamin
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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.