A new chemotherapy option for diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma
Official title: A Next-Generation Nucleoside Prodrug for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11229618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a new chemotherapy drug intended to kill diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma cells, including cancers that don't respond to current treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | December 18, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,596 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279364-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11229618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children with diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, especially those whose disease has relapsed or not responded to frontline therapy, would be the intended candidates for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers other than DLBCL or those who cannot receive nucleoside‑type chemotherapy due to serious organ dysfunction are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
Researchers screened hundreds of cancer cell lines and identified a compound called 4'-ethynyl‑deoxycytidine (EdC) that potently kills DLBCL cells in the lab. EdC works differently from standard drugs by blocking the cancer cell’s supply of DNA building blocks and causing replication stress. In mouse models, EdC shrank DLBCL tumors within days without obvious weight loss or toxicity. The team will refine the compound and run further preclinical tests to prepare it for possible future human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or treatment‑resistant diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma.
How similar studies have gone: Nucleoside analog drugs have a long track record of success in blood cancers, but this specific compound (EdC) is novel and so far has only shown promising results in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
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Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pomerantz, Richard T — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Pomerantz, Richard T
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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.