# Delineating Functional Immunity via Image-Guided PET

> **NIH NIH R37** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $553,790

## Abstract

Abstract
 Immunotherapy has made an enormous impact in the treatment of multiple types of cancer, however
most patients fail to benefit and methods to monitor response are lacking. To bridge this gap, we have developed
non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) tracers to interrogate immune activity in the tumor
microenvironment. Immune cell release of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a hallmark of CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) and
Th1-mediated immune activity, both of which contribute to anti-tumor immunity. Our results thus far show that
antibody-based immunoPET tracers targeting IFN-γ can detect anti-tumor immunity after administration of
immunotherapy, which correlates to treatment outcomes in preclinical tumor models. The current proposal will
advance these studies by examining the potential of IFN-γ PET as a pre-treatment predictor of immunotherapy
response. We will utilize novel Collaborative Cross recombinant inbred mouse models developed during the
course of this project, which exhibit a wide range of response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) due to
select variants in their genetic background. These models mimic the diversity of the human population, yet limit
tumor heterogeneity as a variable by utilizing genetically identical tumor lines, allowing us to focus on the role of
host immunity. We find pre-existing intratumoral IFN-γ expression correlates to ICI outcomes in these models,
and we will now test whether IFN-γ PET imaging prior to therapy is predictive of ICI response. Positive results
will support the use of IFN-γ PET as part of the formulation of patient treatment strategy. In a necessary step for
clinical translation, we will also prepare to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application. Dosimetry,
stability studies, and toxicology will be performed. Collectively, the proposed studies will support the clinical use
of IFN-γ PET to address critical unmet needs, including predictive biomarker discovery and treatment monitoring
technology for cancer immunotherapy. While this proposal focuses on oncology, immune monitoring
technologies may also have additional application in multiple inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10908267
- **Project number:** 5R37CA220482-07
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Heather Marie Gibson
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $553,790
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10908267

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10908267, Delineating Functional Immunity via Image-Guided PET (5R37CA220482-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10908267. Licensed CC0.

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