Using blood tests and imaging to improve immunotherapy for lung cancer
Official title: Integrated blood and radiomic subtyping to guide immunotherapy treatment selection and early response assessment in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-10862751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using blood tests and imaging together can help doctors find the best immunotherapy treatments for people with advanced lung cancer, making it easier and less invasive for patients to get personalized care that works better for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $636,160 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276178-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10862751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who are considering immunotherapy options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage lung cancer or those not eligible for immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how combining blood tests and imaging can help doctors choose the best immunotherapy treatments for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By analyzing blood samples and radiomic data, the study aims to create personalized treatment plans that can better predict how patients will respond to therapy. The approach focuses on developing new tools that are less invasive than traditional tissue biopsies, making it easier for patients to participate in their treatment planning. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes.
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 promise in using blood and imaging techniques for cancer treatment personalization, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vokes, Natalie — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Vokes, Natalie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Integrated blood and radiomics to guide immunotherapy in metastatic NSCLC
A research project aims to use blood tests and advanced imaging patterns to personalize first-line immunotherapy choices for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
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Blocking a tumor pathway to boost immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
This project will see if adding a drug that blocks the Hedgehog pathway to immune checkpoint therapy helps people with non-small cell lung cancer by restoring the immune system's CD8 T cells inside tumors.
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Improving Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer with CT Scans
This work aims to find new ways to predict which non-small cell lung cancer patients will respond best to immunotherapy using information from their routine CT scans.
-
Using CT scans and patient tests to predict who will benefit from PD‑1 immunotherapy
A computer tool combines CT scan features, blood and tumor markers, and clinical data to predict which people with advanced lung or bladder cancer are likely to benefit from PD‑1 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.