Why some head and neck cancers hide from the immune system
Epigenetic Regulation of Head and Neck Cancer Immune Evasion
Researchers are looking at whether changes in a gene called NSD1 make head and neck cancers hide from the immune system in patients with HNSCC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11301807 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and how loss of the NSD1 gene changes tumor DNA marks and immune visibility. Scientists will analyze patient tumor samples and lab-grown tumor cells to map DNA methylation and gene activity, and use gene-editing tools like CRISPR to change NSD1 and observe effects. They will study how these changes affect interferon signaling and whether reversing those changes can attract immune cells into the tumor. The team will link lab findings to real patient tumors to look for biomarkers and strategies that could improve immune-based treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma—especially those whose tumors have NSD1 mutations or related epigenetic changes—would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients without head and neck cancer or whose tumors do not have NSD1-related alterations are less likely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to markers and new ways to make immunotherapy work better for people with certain head and neck cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies show NSD1 loss changes DNA methylation and tumor behavior, but using that knowledge to reverse immune evasion is a newer, exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Chao — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lu, Chao
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.