# Research Project

> **NIH NIH P20** · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · 2024 · $253,180

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – RESEARCH PROJECT
Outcomes for cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Nigeria are poor compared to
high-income countries (HIC). Advances in immuno-oncology (IO) research and the successes of immunotherapy
seen in HIC have not been mirrored in LMIC. Colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes, for example, are poor for
Nigerian patients when compared to similarly staged patients in the US. Through our work to understand the
biology that underlies this disparity, we have found a higher rate of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in CRC of
Nigerian versus US patients. As MSI-H tumors are immunogenic and potentially sensitive to immune checkpoint
blockade, there may be a large proportion of Nigerian patients who may benefit from immunotherapy. However,
there are few studies focused on tumor immunology and IO in Nigerian CRC. These investigations are vital as
we consider the broad application of immunotherapy in LMIC, such as Nigeria. The Nigerian Immuno-Oncology
Research (NOLA) program will integrate our expertise in IO and global cancer disparities to generate preliminary
data, resources, and biobanks for larger future studies. Specifically, in this feasibility and planning phase, we
will: 1. characterize the tumor immune microenvironment of Nigerian CRC patients and compare to a reference
cohort of US patients; 2 create a whole slide image pathology dataset of Nigerian CRC patients and controls;
and 3. build a biobank for future single-cell analyses of the tumor microenvironment of Nigerian CRC. The results
and resources generated will inform future multi-modal investigations of TME biomarkers associated with tumor
immunogenicity/outcome, cost-effective patient stratification for immunotherapy, and rational design of future
immunotherapy trials to address the disparate outcomes in Nigerian patients with CRC.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10879524
- **Project number:** 1P20CA290448-01
- **Recipient organization:** SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** T PETER KINGHAM
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $253,180
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-16 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10879524

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10879524, Research Project (1P20CA290448-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10879524. Licensed CC0.

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