A New Treatment for Metastatic Cancer
Official title: Phase I Clinical Testing of a First-in-Class Therapy against Metastatic Cancer
Funded at Transcode Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11182730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is exploring a brand-new treatment designed to specifically target and remove metastatic cancer cells in people with advanced cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Transcode Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $988,765 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA295173-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer, particularly those where miRNA-10b is implicated in their disease progression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without metastatic disease or those whose cancer does not involve the specific biological pathways targeted by this therapy may not receive benefit.
What this research studies
Metastatic cancer, where cancer spreads to other parts of the body, is a major cause of cancer deaths. This new treatment, called TTX-MC138, aims to specifically get rid of these spreading cancer cells by targeting a molecule called miRNA-10b, which helps cancer spread. The treatment uses a special delivery system to reach both primary and metastatic tumors. In early laboratory and animal tests, this approach successfully eliminated metastatic tumors in breast cancer models without causing widespread side effects, and the tumors did not return.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could offer a way to eliminate metastatic cancer cells and prevent their return, potentially extending and improving the lives of patients.
How similar studies have gone: This is a first-in-class therapy, but extensive preclinical studies in animal models have shown promising results in eliminating metastatic tumors.
Where this research is happening
-
Transcode Therapeutics, INC.
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Medarova, Zdravka O — Transcode Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Medarova, Zdravka O
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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.