Understanding how tumors resist T cell therapy in cancer treatment
Official title: The Landscape of Tumor intrinsic Genetic Resistance to T cell Therapy
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11072963 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some HPV-related cancers don’t respond well to T cell therapy, by exploring the genetic differences in these tumors, so we can find better ways to help patients with these tough-to-treat cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $783,430 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA195682-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072963 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced epithelial cancers, particularly those associated with HPV, who have not responded to standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-epithelial cancers or those who have not been diagnosed with HPV-associated malignancies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the genetic factors that allow certain epithelial cancers, particularly those associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), to resist T cell therapy. By analyzing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the genetic makeup of these tumors, the study aims to uncover why some cancers do not respond to immunotherapy. The approach includes examining how genetic defects in antigen processing and immune response pathways contribute to this resistance. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the effectiveness of cell therapies for these challenging cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with HPV-associated and other epithelial cancers, potentially making previously resistant tumors more responsive to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using T cell therapies for hematologic cancers, but this approach in epithelial cancers is still being explored and is considered novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hinrichs, Christian — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hinrichs, Christian
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.