A new drug that blocks proteins keeping ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells alive
Preclinical Development of the Novel Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins S2/IAPinh for Cancer Therapy
This project is developing a medicine to help people with ovarian or pancreatic cancer by blocking proteins that let tumor cells avoid dying.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325020 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The researchers are creating a small-molecule drug (called an S2/IAP inhibitor) that mimics the body's own proteins that trigger cancer cell death. They will test how well the drug enters cancer cells and reactivates the cell-death machinery in laboratory cell lines and in animal models of ovarian and pancreatic cancer. The team plans to combine the new drug with standard chemotherapy drugs to see if the combination can overcome treatment resistance. These preclinical tests will guide whether the drug should move into human clinical trials in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with epithelial ovarian cancer or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially those whose tumors have become resistant to standard chemotherapy, would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: People without ovarian or pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not rely on inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the drug could make chemotherapy work better and help shrink tumors in ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Related SMAC-mimicking and IAP-inhibiting drugs have shown promise in lab and animal studies and have entered early human trials, but results so far have been mixed and work continues to find the best combinations.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hawkins, William G — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Hawkins, William G
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 below.