Monday, June 30, 2025 6/30/2025

Enabling NIR-PIT therapy to treat deep-tissue cancer

Award Number: R21CA223969
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/09/2018
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2021

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Enabling NIR-PIT therapy to treat deep-tissue cancer - Summary Current methods of cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation, and chemo-immuno-therapy strive to balance cancer treatment against adverse effects. Several treatments that aim to kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells are in development. However, no such therapies have been developed for locally advanced, deep visceral cancers. Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a targeted therapy for cancer with highly selective cell killing based on the use of an antibody- photoabsorber (IR700DX) conjugate (APC) and targeted low energy light therapy. Developed by the National Cancer Institute, this therapy is termed near infrared PIT (NIR-PIT). The antibody can be chosen for optimal binding to a particular cancer based on its cell surface expression. IR700DX is only toxic to cells when the APC is bound to the cell membrane. When exposed to near-infrared light (~690nm) rapid cell necrosis occurs in tumor cells due to changes in cell membrane permeability, but no damage is observed in normal cells that have no or minimal expression of the target antigen. NIR-PIT is in clinical trials in inoperable recurrent head/neck cancers using the conjugate Cetuximab-IR700. A Phase I study has demonstrated minimal adverse events with substantial effects on the tumor including several complete responses. Our strategy relies on silicon carbide (SiC) nanostructures to enable deep-tissue treatment of cancer via NIR-PIT. While a single exposure of APC followed by a single dose of NIR light is effective in knocking down cancer cells, it is not adequate to completely kill the tumor likely due to incomplete penetration of the APC within the tumor. However, multiple exposures of light separated by hours to days are effective and have often resulted in cures in models. The APC demonstrates a relatively long circulation time thus, after first light exposure, additional circulating APCs enter the tumor and bind to remaining tumor cells. Since NIR-PIT kills tumor cells but not vascular endothelium, the vessels are left intact with a 24 fold increase in the permeability of tumor vessels to macromolecules as large as 200nm, an effect termed Super Enhanced Permeability and Retention (SUPR). This project takes advantage of SUPR after an initial NIR- PIT treatment for delivering x-ray activatable nanoparticles to the tumor.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = -$382 )
2022	2019	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA	4202 E FOWLER AVE	TAMPA	FL	33620	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	2	12/1/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$382
														Subtotal = -$382

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $123,508 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA	4202 E FOWLER AVE	TAMPA	FL	33620	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	2	8/1/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$123,508
														Subtotal = $123,508

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $177,876 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA	4202 E FOWLER AVE	TAMPA	FL	33620	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	8/9/2018	NEW	$177,876
														Subtotal = $177,876

Grand Total All Awards = $301,002

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Enabling NIR-PIT therapy to treat deep-tissue cancer

Award Number: R21CA223969

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/09/2018

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2021

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer