# Development of Molecular Microbubble Probes and Ultrasound-Guidance in Immunotherapeutic Strategies

> **NIH NIH R21** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $315,823

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite the unprecedented effects of immunotherapy in treating cancer, over 50–80% of patients will not
respond to treatment and will endure severe adverse and life-threatening events due to treatment. Approaches
to select or guide immunotherapeutic strategies are urgently needed. We propose to develop ultrasound-based
approaches to characterize an overlooked attribute of tissue immuno-imaging; the vasculature and associated
endothelium. In cancer, tumor blood vessels and associated endothelial cells are highly abnormal and
immunosuppressive. These also differ extensively on a patient-by-patient basis. Approaches to modulate
vascular and endothelial immunity have been developed, where anti-angiogenic agents are used to directly
target these and enhance the effects of immunotherapy. However, timing and dosing of anti-angiogenics with
immunotherapy remains a major challenge to maximize benefits to all patients. As such, the tools we propose
to develop will help 1) select patients that are most likely to respond to immunotherapy and reduce adverse
effects and costs to non-responders, and 2) provide imaging feedback for guiding combined anti-angiogenic
and immunotherapy treatment regimens so that more patients may benefit from the unparalleled effects of
these treatments. In order to achieve our goals, we will: 1) develop unique molecular ultrasound probes for
imaging endothelial cell immunosuppressive surface markers, and 2) develop image-guidance to optimize
immunotherapeutic strategies by exploring the quantitative ultrasound parameter space. Equipped with these
initial developments, our goal will be to initiate a larger research program designed to further develop
quantitative ultrasound approaches for imaging tissue, vascular and endothelial aspects of the immune system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10057655
- **Project number:** 1R21EB029046-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Ahmed El Kaffas
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $315,823
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10057655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10057655, Development of Molecular Microbubble Probes and Ultrasound-Guidance in Immunotherapeutic Strategies (1R21EB029046-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10057655. Licensed CC0.

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