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Predict radiation-induced shifts in patient-specific tumor immune ecosystem composition to harness immunological consequences of radiotherapy

Award Number: U01CA244100
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2023

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Predict radiation-induced shifts in patient-specific tumor immune ecosystem composition to harness immunological consequences of radiotherapy - SUMMARY Tumor-associated antigens, stress proteins, and danger-associated molecular patterns are endogenous immune adjuvants that can both initiate and continually stimulate an immune response against a tumor. In retaliation, tumors can hijack intrinsic immune regulatory programs, thereby facilitating continued growth despite an activated antitumor immune response. Clinically apparent tumors have co-evolved with the patient’s immune system and form a complex Tumor-Immune EcoSystem (TIES). The success of radiotherapy (RT) may be the result of radiation shifting the relative proportions of tumor and immune cells such that surviving cancer cells are subject to elimination by the immune system. However, current RT fractionation has not specifically focused on enhancing immune responses, nor has immune cell infiltration into the tumor as biomarker been considered to predict treatment response. We hypothesize that patients with a TIES such that radiation debulks the tumor and induces a robust immune response may be cured. A TIES with weak antitumor-immunity or strong immune suppression may not be sufficiently perturbed by current RT dose fractionation to fully harness radiation-immune synergy and provide tumor control. The goal of the project is to combine experimental studies and clinical data to calibrate and rigorously validate the in silico framework that simulates the influence of different TIES compositions on the response to different radiation doses and dose fractionations. We will focus on oropharyngeal cancer, one of the few cancer types increasing in incidence. In vivo tumors with and without tumor specific T cells provide radiation dose and fractionation-dependent changes in immune infiltration to derive in silico model parameters. For clinical analysis we will use a retrospective cohort of 51 oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) tissue samples as training cohort. We will prospectively collect radiosensitivity and immune infiltration data from 105 OPC patients that undergo radiation therapy with different total doses, dependent on their intrinsic radiosensitivity index (RSI). These data serve as a test cohort to validate model outcome predictions against clinical assessment of complete response at 3 months. Our overall aims are to determine radiation dose and fractionation that optimize radiation-induced immunity, and to identify how to use RT to shift a patient-specific TIES toward immune-modulated tumor elimination. These aims will motivate profound changes to how we conceive of and clinically prescribe RT. Radiation could be understood as immunotherapy. For patients with unfavorable TIES, RT fractionation protocols should focus on the radical perturbation of the TIES toward immune-modulated tumor control. For favorable TIES, dose could be de-escalated with focus on immune activation. Integrating our interdisciplinary expertise allows us to predict RT response and guide decision-making for individual patients, which holds the promise of leading to better outcomes. Successful project completion motivates an in silico model framework-aided clinical trial.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $70,981 )
2026	2023	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	4	2/19/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$70,981
2026	2023	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	4	1/9/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $70,981

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $499,950 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	6	5/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$49,995
2025	2025	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	6	4/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$449,955
														Subtotal = $499,950

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2023	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 USF MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	4	4/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$379,908
2024	2023	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, A COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS SYSTEM	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	5	4/22/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$379,908
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $486,051 )
2023	2023	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	002	4	2/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$486,051
2023	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	3	12/6/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	3	1/25/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $486,051

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $484,138 )
2022	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	3	5/13/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,678
2022	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	3	3/10/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$275,960
2022	2022	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	002	3	9/8/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$168,500
														Subtotal = $484,138

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $629,676 )
2021	2021	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	2	8/18/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$133,705
2021	2021	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	2	1/29/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$495,971
														Subtotal = $629,676

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $495,971 )
2020	2020	H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOSPITAL, INC.	12902 MAGNOLIA DR	TAMPA	FL	33612	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	2/27/2020	NEW	$495,971
														Subtotal = $495,971

Grand Total All Awards = $2,666,767

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Predict radiation-induced shifts in patient-specific tumor immune ecosystem composition to harness immunological consequences of radiotherapy

Award Number: U01CA244100

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2023

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