Visualizing immune cells in head and neck cancer using advanced MRI technology
Official title: Imaging tumor-associated macrophages in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using fluorine-19 MRI
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11076706 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new MRI method to see special immune cells in tumors for people with recurring head and neck cancer, which could help doctors understand how the cancer is doing and find the best treatments for each patient.
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 | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $655,698 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290014-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076706 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are undergoing treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage head and neck cancer or those not receiving treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on using a specialized MRI technique to visualize tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study aims to develop a non-invasive method to assess the burden of these immune cells within tumors, which is crucial for understanding patient prognosis and treatment response. By injecting a fluorine-19 MRI tracer that targets macrophages, researchers hope to create detailed images that can help identify patients who may benefit from specific cancer therapies. This approach could lead to better patient stratification and optimized treatment strategies based on individual tumor characteristics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer by enabling more personalized therapy based on tumor immune profiles.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research using advanced imaging techniques to visualize immune cells has shown promise, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahrens, Eric T. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Ahrens, Eric T.
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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.