# The Impact of PD-1 Inhibition on Immune-Response to Chemoradiotherapy

> **NIH NIH P20** · SANFORD RESEARCH/USD · 2020 · $288,946

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The host immune response is critical for the clearance of head and neck cancer during chemoradiotherapy
(CRT). Recent findings suggest impairment of this crucial response during standard CRT. Therefore, to block
impairment of the host immune response we have developed a novel chemoimmunotherapy (CIRT) regimen
incorporating the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab. We hypothesize that this novel CIRT regimen will overcome
the exhausted immune phenotype evident during standard CRT, thereby facilitating the immune response and
enhancing tumor clearance. We will test this hypothesis by comparing the peripheral blood immunocyte
response during standard CRT and CIRT. Patient immune phenotype and functional response during
treatment will be assessed by flow cytometry, immunocyte immune checkpoint and cytokine expression. In
patients with human papilloma virus (HPV) related cancers, retention of the HPV specific immune response will
be compared. In addition, we will investigate tumor and tumor microenvironment factors that may impact the
host immune response. Pre-treatment tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) populations, immune checkpoint
expression, and immune-related gene signatures will be correlated with clinical outcome and peripheral blood
immune response in patients treated with standard CRT and CIRT. In patients who do not respond to
treatment, salvage surgical specimens will be evaluated to identify factors that contributed to treatment
resistance. With the increasing availability of numerous immunotherapy options, this project will provide
important insights into immune biomarkers and identify targets for future therapeutic interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985855
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103548-10
- **Recipient organization:** SANFORD RESEARCH/USD
- **Principal Investigator:** Steven Francis Powell
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $288,946
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-02 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985855

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985855, The Impact of PD-1 Inhibition on Immune-Response to Chemoradiotherapy (5P20GM103548-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985855. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*