Understanding skin-related side effects of cancer immunotherapy
Official title: Predictive modeling of cutaneous immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11045671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at skin problems that some cancer patients might experience while getting immune checkpoint inhibitors, with the goal of understanding how common these issues are and what might cause them, so we can help patients feel better and keep up with their important treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $176,040 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AR080791-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer who may experience skin-related side effects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors or those without skin-related adverse events may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the skin-related toxicities that can occur in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer treatment. It aims to identify the frequency and types of these skin reactions, known as cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs), and the factors that contribute to their development. By analyzing real-world data, the study seeks to improve patient outcomes by understanding how these side effects impact treatment and quality of life. The findings could help in developing strategies to mitigate these adverse effects and ensure patients can continue their life-saving cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of skin toxicities, allowing patients to receive effective cancer treatment without significant interruptions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding adverse effects of cancer therapies can lead to improved patient management, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Semenov, Yevgeniy R — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Semenov, Yevgeniy R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Autoimmune diabetes linked to cancer immunotherapy: discovering causes and biomarkers
This grant explores why some people on cancer immunotherapy develop autoimmune diabetes and aims to find biomarkers to predict and prevent it.
-
ctDNA biomarker to guide safety of cancer immunotherapy in inflammatory arthritis
A patient-facing biomarker study using a blood test to detect tumor DNA in people with cancer who develop inflammatory arthritis from immunotherapy, to help doctors pick safer treatment choices.
-
Cross-species study of immune responses to cancer immunotherapy in dogs and humans with invasive bladder cancer
A study using dogs with naturally occurring invasive bladder cancer to help improve immune checkpoint therapies for people with the same disease.
-
Characterizing the psychological symptoms in melanoma patients on immunotherapy
A long-term study follows adults with advanced skin cancer who are starting immune checkpoint therapy to understand the pattern of emotional and psychological symptoms they experience.
-
Immunologic and Antigenic Drivers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Associated Heart Inflammation
A doctor-scientist team is studying why cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint drugs sometimes develop dangerous heart inflammation and what immune targets cause it.
-
Pathway-guided treatment of colon toxicity from immune checkpoint inhibitors
A patient-focused look at a study that aims to understand and improve how immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy causes colon inflammation and how to treat it more effectively.
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.