Understanding how gut bacteria and immune cells affect lung cancer treatment response
Official title: Intratumoral microbiota and immune predictors of response to immunotherapy in lung cancer
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10981747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in lung tumors and the immune cells around them can help predict how well patients with advanced lung cancer will respond to immunotherapy, so we can better understand who might benefit from this treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $684,367 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA285882-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10981747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer who are about to start immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage lung cancer or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between the bacteria present in lung tumors and the immune cells that infiltrate these tumors to predict how well patients with advanced lung cancer will respond to immunotherapy. By analyzing tumor samples from patients before they receive treatment, the study aims to identify specific biomarkers that can indicate whether a patient is likely to benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors. The research will involve a large cohort of patients and utilize advanced analytical techniques to create a predictive model for treatment response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for lung cancer patients, improving their chances of responding to immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in linking microbiota and immune responses to treatment outcomes in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yanhong — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yanhong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Intratumoral microbiota and immune predictors of response to immunotherapy in lung cancer
A scientist team will study whether specific microbes inside lung tumors and immune cells can predict who will respond to immunotherapy in lung cancer.
-
Predicting Immunotherapy Success for Lung Cancer
This project looks at bacteria inside tumors and immune cells to help predict which lung cancer patients will respond best to immunotherapy.
-
Biomarkers to predict and improve immunotherapy response in lung cancer
This grant aims to find gene-based markers that predict which NSCLC patients will benefit from immunotherapy and to uncover ways to make treatment work better for those who don’t respond.
-
Improving immunotherapy for lung cancer
A team at Emory University is exploring ways to boost how well PD-1–targeted therapies work for people with non-small cell lung cancer.
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Targeting GARP-TGFβ to Improve Immunotherapy in NSCLC
A new antibody approach aims to block a key TGFβ-related pathway in the tumor environment to help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better to therapy.
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Targeting DHX9 to boost viral-like immune response in Small Cell Lung Cancer
A scientist team is testing whether blocking a protein called DHX9 can make aggressive small cell lung cancer more visible to the immune system and more responsive to immunotherapy.
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.