A living-cell detector for ALT-related biomarkers in pediatric bone cancers
Official title: Development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters to detect a pediatric cancer biomarker in living cells
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11381149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, cell-based tool will help scientists see ALT activity in cancer cells from pediatric tumors, potentially guiding future therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,439 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA305169-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children or young people with ALT-associated pediatric cancers (e.g., osteosarcoma, high-risk neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, or other ALT-positive mesenchymal tumors) could benefit from later translational advances.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage cellular studies may not yet translate to immediate patient benefits for all cancer types.
What this research studies
This project creates two live-cell reporter systems that signal when ALT telomere maintenance is active in cancer cells. By tracking C-circle biomarkers in real time, researchers can observe how ALT emerges as cancer cells adapt to treatments. The work focuses on pediatric mesenchymal tumors, seeking targets to develop therapies that specifically disrupt ALT-driven growth. The approach combines genetic tools with live imaging to study ALT activation in cells that mimic patient tumors. Results could inform future drug development and personalized treatment strategies for children with aggressive cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapies that specifically target ALT-positive pediatric cancers, potentially slowing tumor growth and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: ALT biomarkers like C-circles have been observed in ALT-positive models, but real-time live-cell ALT detectors are a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pattenden, Samantha Gail — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pattenden, Samantha Gail
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.