Using light therapy to improve immune response in ovarian cancer treatment
Official title: Fractionated photoimmunotherapy to harness low-dose immunostimulation in ovarian cancer
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-10874778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to treat advanced ovarian cancer by using light therapy along with immunotherapy to help your immune system fight the cancer better while protecting healthy cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $490,448 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA280849-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10874778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who have not responded well to traditional therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer or those who have not been diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach for advanced ovarian cancer that combines light therapy with immunotherapy. It aims to selectively destroy cancer cells while preserving immune cells that can help fight the cancer. The method involves using a specific type of light to activate a treatment that targets cancer cells, potentially improving the effectiveness of the immune response. By carefully controlling the dosage of the therapy, the researchers hope to enhance the immune system's ability to combat the tumor.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While photoimmunotherapy has been explored before, this specific approach of dose fractionation in ovarian cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spring, Bryan Quilty — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Spring, Bryan Quilty
Related research
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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.