Targeting tryptophan metabolism to improve rectal cancer treatment
Official title: Targeting Tryptophan Metabolism in Rectal Cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11411410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant is exploring a new way to help people with locally advanced rectal cancer by combining radiation with a drug that blocks a pathway our immune system uses to protect tumors.
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 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $274,115 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278197-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with locally advanced rectal cancer who are candidates for short-course radiation therapy and chemoradiation as part of total neoadjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show IDO1-driven immune suppression or who cannot tolerate the study treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project uses samples from rectal cancer patients and pre-clinical models to test if blocking IDO1, a blocker of tryptophan metabolism, can boost the effectiveness of short-course radiation therapy. Early work showed IDO1 may contribute to treatment resistance and immune suppression in tumors, and an IDO1 inhibitor could make radiation more effective. The study builds on a Phase I dose-escalation experience to determine safety and potential benefits while exploring how combining therapies affects tumor biology. If successful, this approach could lead to higher response rates and better outcomes for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience higher tumor response to therapy and potentially better long-term outcomes with fewer disease-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and early clinical findings suggest combining radiation with IDO1 inhibition may enhance tumor kill and immune response, with ongoing exploration in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ciorba, Matthew Aaron — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Ciorba, Matthew Aaron
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Molecular Characterization of Radiation Effects in Rectal Cancer
A patient-facing platform study aims to link tissue changes, imaging, and the immune system during radiotherapy for rectal cancer to improve future treatments.
-
Immune System and Radiation in Rectal Cancer
This grant supports a small international study to understand how radiation therapy interacts with the immune system in rectal cancer by collecting tumor, blood, stool, and lymph node samples from patients before and after treatment.
-
Time-restricted eating during rectal cancer treatment to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes
A clinical trial tests whether eating only within a set time window during cancer treatment can reduce side effects and help treatments work better for rectal cancer patients.
-
Enhancing Rectal Cancer Immunotherapy with Radiation-Induced Senescence and PTPN2 Inhibition
This grant explores a combo approach using radiation and a targeted inhibitor to boost the body's immune attack on rectal cancer, aiming to preserve the organ and reduce long-term side effects.
-
Early response to radiotherapy and immunotherapy in rectal cancer
A new approach combines short-course radiation, chemotherapy, and an immune therapy antibody to try to shrink rectal cancers before surgery or avoid surgery altogether.
-
Harnessing treatment-induced tumor evolution in rectal cancer using a patient-centered co-clinical platform
A Duke-led program tests how rectal cancers change during treatment to uncover new ways to improve outcomes for patients who might avoid surgery or have better responses.
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.