# Stimulating Neo-Antigen Specific T Cell Responses in Head and Neck Cancers

> **NIH NIH U01** · LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY · 2021 · $849,319

## Abstract

Abstract
Neoantigens (NeoAg) offer a unique and powerful opportunity for directing a patient’s immune response
specifically to cancer cells while avoiding damage to normal tissues. Methods for their reliable identification in
tumors of moderate mutational burden such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are lacking,
however, as are preclinical experimental platforms for utilizing human material to understand the possibilities
and impediments in enabling NeoAg-specific T cells to eradicate established tumors. Working with a focused
and collaborative team with expertise in cellular and molecular immunology, bioinformatics, and translational
oncology, we have developed a set of novel tools and approaches to address the complex tumor/immune
ecosystem in new and incisive ways. These include a unique new model of tobacco-induced HNSCC
carcinogenesis which recapitulates many key features of the human disease including gene expression patterns
of activated oncogenes, a powerful new combined bioinformatic and functional analysis platform the identification
of NeoAg by these tumors can be recognized by the host immune system, a novel preclinical model of
combination radio-immunotherapy through which NeoAg-specific responses can be induced and sustained
(Sharabi/Sharma), and finally, a new preclinical model of tumor-induced unresponsiveness in the setting of
adoptive cellular therapy using human HNSCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors and patient-matched
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) specific for an identified NeoAg. Together, these studies will address the
hypothesis that autologous NeoAg-specific T cells can eradicate HNSCC tumors as well as defining the key
quantitative and qualitative parameters governing therapeutic efficacy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10237372
- **Project number:** 5U01DE028227-04
- **Recipient organization:** LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jorge Silvio Gutkind
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $849,319
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-19 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10237372

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10237372, Stimulating Neo-Antigen Specific T Cell Responses in Head and Neck Cancers (5U01DE028227-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10237372. Licensed CC0.

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