# Tasquinimod as an adjunct to immunotherapies administered peri-operatively

> **NIH NIH U19** · BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE · 2024 · $143,825

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – PROJECT 2 
Although immunotherapy has significantly improved patient survival for many types of cancers, to date no 
immunotherapeutic agent has shown consistent efficacy against glioblastoma (GBM). Many promising 
immunotherapy approaches for GBM are administered in the peri-operative period, but, unfortunately, for GBM 
patients two surgery-related factors work against the success of these immunotherapies: 1) Most GBM patients 
are treated peri-operatively with high doses of dexamethasone, which suppresses the immune system, and 2) 
surgical brain injury from tumor resection results in a substantial release of cytokines and chemokines that alter 
the tumor milieu and support tumor regrowth. Our preclinical data demonstrate the significant role that the 
receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) pathway plays in the brain’s inflammatory response to 
surgical brain injury and that the RAGE ligand S100A9 is a key intermediary. The overall goal of this research 
project is to repurpose tasquinimod, an anti-inflammatory small molecule inhibitor of S100A9, by developing it 
as an immunotherapy adjunct that will control cerebral edema while diminishing post-surgery activation of the 
pro-tumor inflammatory response, thus creating a tumor microenvironment that enhances the efficacy of 
immunotherapies administered in the peri-operative period for the treatment of GBM. We will begin by performing 
a phase I safety and feasibility study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of tasquinimod when 
administered in combination with relatively low doses of dexamethasone peri-operatively in GBM patients who 
undergo tumor resection (Aim 1). We will assess the ability of tasquinimod to reverse myeloid-induced 
immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (Aim 2) by measuring changes in concentrations of cytokines 
and RAGE ligands in the peritumoral brain interstitium with intracerebral microdialysis and evaluating changes 
in levels of these inflammatory markers as well as immune cell populations in resection cavity fluid. To determine 
the immune-modulatory effect of tasquinimod when used in combination with immunotherapy approaches that 
are administered during the peri-operative period (Aim 3), we will perform preclinical in vivo studies to assess 
the efficacy of tasquinimod in combination with PD-1 inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, and CAR T cells. By inhibiting 
the activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tasquinimod could enhance the anti-tumor activity of these 
emerging immunotherapy technologies, leading to increased efficacy against GBM. Successful completion of 
these aims would provide a strong foundation to support development of future clinical trials to assess use of 
tasquinimod alone for controlling cerebral edema and to evaluate tasquinimod in combination with the most 
promising immunotherapy approach determined in Aim 3 with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with 
GBM.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10928772
- **Project number:** 5U19CA264512-04
- **Recipient organization:** BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE
- **Principal Investigator:** Behnam Badie
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $143,825
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-13 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10928772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10928772, Tasquinimod as an adjunct to immunotherapies administered peri-operatively (5U19CA264512-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10928772. Licensed CC0.

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