# Prediction and Treatment for Cancer Immunotherapy Induced Myocarditis

> **NIH NIH R21** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $236,250

## Abstract

Abstract
 In the past 10 years, the FDA has approved 6 checkpoint inhibitors and quickly expanded indications from
melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer to Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney, and bladder cancer. Moreover, there
are more than 150 ongoing clinical trials on PD-1 inhibitors treatment alone. Despite the anti-cancer benefits,
immunotherapy associated immune related adverse events affect a broad spectrum of organs, including heart.
Current diagnosis in clinical practices are troponin test and electrocardiograms, which, however, lack of
necessary sensitivity and specificity to myocarditis. Accordingly, in Specific Aim 1, we seek to identify
transcriptomic (RNAseq/MirSeq) biomarkers that may have predictive value for checkpoint inhibitor treatment
induced myocarditis. In this specific aim, we will be focused on patients who have developed autoimmune
myocarditis after receiving checkpoint inhibitor treatments and have blood samples banked. Such patients
provided an opportunity to identify new associative and predictive biomarkers that can serve as guideposts for
the implementation of new therapeutic approaches to suppress the inflammatory drivers of cardiotoxicity. For
medical management of immune Checkpoint Inhibitors associated myocarditis, current practices of subscribing
steroids expose patients to immune suppression systemically. In Specific Aim 2, we will evaluate a new anti-
inflammatory peptide-based nanoparticle system for delivering siRNA against NF-κB to manage myocarditis
induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Different from currently existing approaches, the new technology
proposed in Specific Aim 2 would enable anti-inflammation treatment delivery only to inflamed region in the heart.
Moreover, the testing agent has known anti-cancer effects. Therefore, the success of Specific Aim 2 could
provide precision treatment delivery and minimize systemic off-target side effects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10645593
- **Project number:** 7R21HL154009-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hua Pan
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $236,250
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2022-07-20 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10645593

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10645593, Prediction and Treatment for Cancer Immunotherapy Induced Myocarditis (7R21HL154009-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10645593. Licensed CC0.

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