Using immunotherapy and radiation to treat HPV-related throat cancer
Official title: Neoadjuvant immunoradiotherapy for HPV mediated oropharynx cancer
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10930922 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to treat throat cancer caused by HPV by combining special medicines that help your immune system with targeted radiation, aiming to improve how well patients respond to treatment while protecting healthy tissues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $589,762 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281286-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930922 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with locally advanced HPV-mediated oropharynx cancer who have not yet received treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who have already undergone treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach for HPV-mediated oropharynx cancer, which is expected to rise in incidence. The study aims to combine PD-1 inhibitors with targeted radiation therapy to improve patient outcomes. By focusing on sparing lymphatic tissues while treating the tumor, the researchers hope to enhance the immune response against the cancer. This innovative strategy is based on previous findings that suggest the importance of lymphatic health in mounting an effective immune response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and less harmful treatment options for patients with HPV-related throat cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While PD-1 inhibitors have shown limited success in untreated HPV-related cancers, this approach of combining immunotherapy with targeted radiation is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Califano, Joseph a — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Califano, Joseph a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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An image-based test to predict risk in HPV-positive throat cancer
This project aims to develop a simple image- and molecular-based test to show which people with HPV-positive oropharynx (throat) cancer are more likely to have a recurrence so their treatment can be personalized.
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A new tumor marker (HPVhet) to predict outcomes in HPV-related throat cancer
This project looks at whether a tumor marker called HPVhet can better predict which people with HPV-positive throat cancer will do well and which might need stronger treatment.
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Neoadjuvant immunoradiotherapy for HPV-related throat cancer
A new approach combines targeted radiation before surgery with PD-1 blockade to treat HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce long-term side effects.
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A test to predict outcomes for HPV-positive oropharynx (throat) cancer using tumor molecular and imaging features
This project will see if an 'HPVhet' score derived from tumor biology and routine pathology images can help predict outcomes for people with HPV-positive oropharynx cancer.
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Improving treatment for HPV-related throat cancer before surgery
This research explores a new way to combine radiation and immunotherapy before surgery for people with HPV-related throat cancer.
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Detecting HPV-related throat cancer earlier in people with and without HIV
This study is looking to find better ways to detect HPV-related throat cancer early, especially for people living with HIV, by checking for certain markers in their saliva and blood, which could help improve screening methods in the future.
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.