# Tumor-Host Interactions Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2022 · $81,611

## Abstract

ABSTRACT 
Overview and Goals: The goals of the Tumor Host Interactions (THI) Program are to understand both tumor 
intrinsic (Aim 1) and extrinsic (Aim 2) conditions of the host that impact tumor initiation, progression and 
therapeutic response, and to harness this information using translational pre-clinical studies and clinical trials 
(Aim 3). THI investigators use expertise in tumor immunology, the tumor microenvironment, and physiology to 
understand and exploit tumor/host crosstalk, such as tumor-stroma interactions, tumor infiltrating immune cells, 
heme- and lymph-angiogenesis, endocrine influences on components of the microenvironment and site-specific 
niches. Research Highlights: Research in Aim 1 demonstrates the role of IL-1 in inflammatory cancers by 
creating a new IL-1R3 antibody, that blocks 6 different IL-1 family cytokines and shows significant activity in 
preclinical models (Nat Immunol, 2019 [14]). Exemplifying Aim 2, collaborative research uncovered a novel role 
of Sema7a in the initiation and progression of postpartum breast cancer (Cancer Res, 2018 [29], Front Immunol, 
2019 [30]). This work also identified PDL1 as a potential target for postpartum breast cancer (Oncogene, 2020 
[31], Cancer Res, 2020 [32]). In Aim 3, partnerships between the University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC) 
basic researchers, clinical facilities (Children's Hospital and University Hospital) and the good manufacturing 
production facility create an infrastructure for the production and safe clinical testing of first-in-human cellular 
therapy. An investigator-initiated clinical trial testing a unique CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T product 
in adults and children is open and a CD19xCD22 product will be tested in Q1, 2021. Program Activities: THI 
co-leaders employ resources provided by the UCCC to host annual retreats aimed at facilitating intra- and inter- 
programmatic, multi-investigator collaborations. Programmatic funding is allocated for such efforts, as well as 
seed grants for junior faculty (many UCCC mentored members). Members: THI has 51 full and 11 mentored 
members with $4.4M NCI and $7.4M of other peer-reviewed cancer research funding in 2020. Members are from 
20 basic science and clinical departments at UCCC affiliated campuses. Since 2016, THI members produced 
476 cancer-focused publications, of which 256 (54%) were either inter-programmatic (48%), intra-programmatic 
(21%), or both (16%); and 162 (54%) represented collaborations with investigators at other NCI cancer centers. 
Eighteen percent (18%) are in journals with impact factor of 10 or greater. Future Directions: THI will support 
pilot projects that utilize specialized instrumentation such as CyTOF, MIBI and multispectral imaging that the 
UCCC invested in to support basic and translational THI studies investigating the tumor microenvironment. 
Through retreats and strategic workshops, seed grants, and support from relevant SRs, THI will enhance 
research on...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10332913
- **Project number:** 2P30CA046934-34
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD D SCHULICK
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $81,611
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-04-04 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10332913

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10332913, Tumor-Host Interactions Program (2P30CA046934-34). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10332913. Licensed CC0.

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