# Project 2

> **NIH NIH P20** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $292,668

## Abstract

Project Summary
One of the most significant advancements in lung cancer treatment has been the introduction of immune
checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which either as single agents or in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy,
are now front-line therapy for most patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While treatment
response rates can be remarkable, side effects, especially immune-related adverse events (irAEs), are of major
concern. When uncontrolled, side effects can result in unscheduled care, increased out-of-pocket costs for
patients, and treatment delays or discontinuation. African Americans continue to have worse outcomes after a
lung cancer diagnosis than whites, and there are known differences between African Americans and whites with
respect to many aspects of cancer treatment, including time to initiation and dose of chemotherapy, symptom
burden, and even treatment of side effects. However, little is known about potential differences by race with
respect to response to ICI treatment largely due to a lack of inclusion of African American patients in the clinical
trials leading to FDA approvals. Thus, there is a critical need to explore whether African American and white
patients are differentially impacted by side effects related to ICI treatment. The specific aims are to: 1)
Characterize patient-reported side effects and quality of life and clinician-assessed irAEs associated with ICI
treatment in a group of African American and white lung cancer patients being treated in a standard care setting;
and 2) Identify the sociodemographic, individual, and disease-specific determinants of patient-reported side
effects and quality of life and irAEs associated with ICI treatment and characterize differences by race. While
ICIs holds promise for improved outcomes, little is known about whether potential predictors of patient-reported
side effects and quality of life and irAEs vary by race. This study will directly evaluate multi-level predictors in
response to ICI treatment in African American and white patients. Understanding the sociodemographic,
individual, and disease-specific determinants of these outcomes in lung cancer patients provides the basis for
moving towards a more equity-focused approach to the use of ICIs. By identifying drivers of potential disparities,
we can better identify patients at high risk for side effects and irAEs, develop interventions to reduce risk factors,
thereby improving patient quality of life and reducing racial disparities in outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10289604
- **Project number:** 1P20CA262735-01
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Felicity Harper
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $292,668
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-20 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10289604

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10289604, Project 2 (1P20CA262735-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-10 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10289604. Licensed CC0.

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