# Radiogenomic Credentialing of Head and Neck Cancer Models

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE CORP · 2022 · $597,483

## Abstract

Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are aggressive neoplasms that result in debilitating
changes in speech, appearance, and quality of life in humans. Response rates in HNSCC patients have
remained relatively unchanged over the years, especially in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)
negative HNSCC highlighting the critical need for novel strategies to meet the therapeutic needs of this patient
population. As recognized by PAR-17-245, a critical step in discovering novel therapies for HNSCC patients is
the development of tumor models that can reliably recapitulate human disease biology, heterogeneity and
therapeutic response. The overall goal of this application is to validate and credential a panel of patient-
derived and immunocompetent models of HNSCC. Systematic and in-depth comparison of histopathologic,
genomic, and therapeutic response profiles will be performed across multiple preclinical platforms in vitro
(organoids) and in vivo (allografts/xenografts). Paired in vitro and in vivo models across these platforms will be
used to assess their response to standard of care chemoradiation and immune checkpoint blockade. The
models will also be used to screen the activity of novel and FDA-approved agents (‘drug repurposing’)
targeting critical pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of HNSCC. The application builds on an existing
collaboration between several investigators at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with extensive
experience and expertise in mammalian models, head and neck cancer, cancer imaging, tumor immunology,
genomics, bioinformatics and cancer therapeutics. The project will employ innovative multimodal functional
imaging methods to better define and enhance the true translational utility of mammalian models. The proposal
will establish a robust panel of credentialed mammalian models of HNSCC and enable development of an
integrated preclinical pipeline to assess efficacy of novel therapeutics, identify resistance mechanisms and
enable biomarker discovery in HNSCC.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10310511
- **Project number:** 5R01CA243456-02
- **Recipient organization:** ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE CORP
- **Principal Investigator:** Mukund Seshadri
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $597,483
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-01 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10310511

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10310511, Radiogenomic Credentialing of Head and Neck Cancer Models (5R01CA243456-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10310511. Licensed CC0.

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