# Cancer Host Interactions Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $10,469

## Abstract

CANCER HOST INTERACTIONS: PROJECT SUMMARY
The Cancer Host Interactions Program (CHI) aims to identify: (1) cancer-host interactions in the tumor
microenvironment (TME), and host that promote cancer progression; (2) immune cell regulatory mechanisms
relevant to anticancer immunity and treatment; (3) novel therapies to overcome resistance caused by CHI. The
2021-2026 LCCC Strategic Plan led to the emergence of the CHI program. The CHI Program Aims nucleate
existing LCCC abilities and those of new recruits. Led by Co-Leaders, Yi Zhang, MD, PhD and Joyce Slingerland,
MD, PhD, CHI has 39 Members from eight departments at Georgetown University (GU) and the John Theurer
Cancer Center (JTCC) at Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) in NJ, spanning all academic ranks, with 62% (24)
Full, 20% (8) Associate, and 18% (7) Assistant Professors. CHI arose from the prior Breast Cancer and
Experimental Therapeutics Programs and reflects new directions and recent recruits, including both Program
Co-Leaders. 13 new Members, including six based at LCCC/HMH, joined LCCC in this grant cycle to increase
scientific depth across the Consortium. CHI Members use all Shared Resources. This strongly translational
Program includes 15 physician scientists. Disease focused research in breast, lung, hepatocellular, and other
gastrointestinal cancers addresses Catchment Area (CA) needs prioritized by Community Outreach and
Engagement (COE) and communicated by the COE liaison. CHI Members led 45 investigator-initiated trials (IITs)
this grant period, including 18 currently open IITs (10 therapeutic, 1 non-therapeutic, 7 non-interventional non-
therapeutic). Most IITs arose from LCCC science and all were supported by the LCCC Clinical Protocol and Data
Management (CPDM). LCCC seed funding enabled six early-stage faculty to acquire seven new ACS, DOD,
and NIH R01, R00, and R37 grants. Major accomplishments in Aim 1 include identification of metabolic,
estrogenic, and signaling mechanisms whereby cancer cells interact with fibroblasts, adipocytes and immune
cells in the TME to oppose antitumor immunity and drive metastasis. Aim 2 investigators have identified novel
epigenetic and transcriptional programs that regulate T memory stem cell abundance and plasticity, NK cell
immunity, macrophage polarization, and cytokine effects on tumor immune surveillance. Findings from CHI
science of Aims 1 and 2 have generated hypothesis-driven therapeutic trials of Aim 3, exemplified by a Phase II
trial of a novel immunotherapy approach in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CHI Members hold $5.8M in cancer-
focused, peer-reviewed funding (ADC), with $2.3M from NCI and $3.5M from NIH and other peer-reviewed
sources, and $0.5M in Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) research support.
Members authored 428 cancer-relevant publications, of which 18% were intra-programmatic, 20% inter-
programmatic, and 67% inter-NCI-designated Cancer Center collaborations. Forty percent (41%) were in high-
impa...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10849005
- **Project number:** 2P30CA051008-30
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JOYCE MARIE SLINGERLAND
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $10,469
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1997-08-15 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849005, Cancer Host Interactions Program (2P30CA051008-30). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849005. Licensed CC0.

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