Using HLA-B44 tumor markers to predict lasting benefit from PD-1 therapy in lung cancer
HLA B44 motif neoepitopes in NSCLC: Evaluating their effects on the TME and adding them to established markers in a model to predict durable benefit from PD- 1 inhibition with and without chemotherapy
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11210786
This project looks at whether specific tumor changes tied to the HLA-B44 gene can help predict which non-small cell lung cancer patients will have long-lasting responses to PD-1 immunotherapy, with or without chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11210786 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I join, the team will check my tumor for HLA-B44 motif neoepitopes and compare those tumors to others in large genomic databases. They will use gene expression data and computerized analyses to describe differences in the tumor microenvironment, and they will study actual surgical tumor samples with multiplex immunofluorescence to see where immune cells and proteins sit in the tumor. The researchers will combine these biological features with existing clinical markers to build a predictive model for durable responses to PD-1 blockade given alone or with chemotherapy. The work focuses especially on patients who carry HLA-B44 alleles because of how common they are across groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with non-small cell lung cancer, especially those who can provide surgical tumor samples or have tumor sequencing data and who may be considered for PD-1–based therapy.
Not a fit: People without non-small cell lung cancer, those who cannot provide tumor tissue or sequencing data, or patients whose tumors lack the HLA-B44-related features are unlikely to be helped directly by participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify who is more likely to get a long-lasting benefit from PD-1 immunotherapy and guide more personalized treatment choices.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown PD-1 drugs produce durable responses in a minority of NSCLC patients and earlier analyses linked charged HLA-B pockets and motif neoepitopes to better outcomes, but combining spatial tumor features and modeling for prediction is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GARON, EDWARD B — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: GARON, EDWARD B
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 below.