Understanding why some patients with Merkel cell carcinoma resist immunotherapy
Official title: Identifying the Mechanism of Resistance to Immunotherapy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (for Zachary Reinstein)
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11031967 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some people with Merkel cell carcinoma, a tough type of skin cancer, don’t respond well to immunotherapy, and it hopes to find clues that could help improve treatment for those patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $44,751 |
| NIH project number | 5F30CA278298-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031967 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, particularly those who have undergone immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those who have not been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons behind the resistance to immunotherapy in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly aggressive skin cancer. By analyzing a large database of MCC samples treated with immune checkpoint blockade, the study aims to identify specific T cells that contribute to treatment responses. The researchers will explore the interactions between these T cells and tumor cells to uncover the mechanisms of resistance and potential biomarkers for predicting treatment outcomes. This work could lead to improved strategies for treating patients who do not respond to current immunotherapy options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who currently do not benefit from immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses in other cancers, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for Merkel cell carcinoma as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reinstein, Zachary Zale — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Reinstein, Zachary Zale
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Hypoxia and metabolism as targets to improve immunotherapy in head and neck cancer
This grant tests new combinations of metabolic drugs with immunotherapy to help people with head and neck cancer respond better to treatment.
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Determinants of immunotherapy response in NASH-related liver cancer
Aims to understand why some patients with NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma respond differently to immunotherapy and to identify biomarkers that predict who benefits.
-
Immunobiology and Immunotherapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
A team at the University of Washington is advancing how the immune system fights a rare skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma and testing new immune-based treatments to help patients who don’t respond to existing therapies.
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New therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma and its immune environment
A cancer grant is testing a drug that may boost immune therapies and help patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who don’t respond to current treatments.
-
Biomarker test to predict immunotherapy response in head and neck cancer
A multi-site study aims to validate blood-based and immune biomarkers to predict which head and neck cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy.
-
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Platform for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Johns Hopkins study will test immune-based therapy given before surgery to shrink liver cancer and help prevent recurrence.
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.