Understanding how lung bacteria affect cancer treatment response
Official title: Local microbiota signatures of pro-tumor immunity and checkpoint inhibition susceptibility in lung cancer
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10879861 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your lungs might affect how well immunotherapy works for non-small cell lung cancer, and it aims to find patterns that could help doctors tailor treatments just for you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $652,880 |
| NIH project number | 4R37CA244775-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10879861 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer who are considering or undergoing PD-1 blockade therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of lung cancer or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of lung microbiota in influencing the effectiveness of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By analyzing the microbial signatures in the lower airways, the study aims to identify specific patterns that may predict how well patients respond to PD-1 blockade therapy. Patients will undergo longitudinal assessments, including sampling of airway, stool, and blood, to correlate these microbiota profiles with treatment outcomes. The goal is to enhance personalized treatment strategies based on individual microbiome characteristics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized immunotherapy treatments for lung cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut microbiome's impact on cancer treatment, but this specific focus on lung microbiota is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Segal, Leopoldo Nicolas
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.
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Lung bacteria linked to immune response and immunotherapy in lung cancer
Looks at whether certain bacteria in the lower airways are tied to how people with non-small cell lung cancer respond to PD-1 immunotherapy.
-
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.
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Understanding how gut bacteria improve lung cancer treatment
This project explores how certain gut bacteria might help immunotherapy work better for people with lung cancer and reduce side effects.
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Understanding how gut bacteria and immune cells affect lung cancer treatment response
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.
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How gut bacteria can improve lung cancer treatment with immune therapy
This study is looking at how certain good bacteria in your gut might help make lung cancer treatments work better, especially a type of therapy called anti-PD-1, and if you join, you could help researchers find out which bacteria are most helpful by providing samples.
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.