ABL kinase signaling and DNA collisions in small cell lung cancer
Official title: ABL kinase signaling networks regulate Transcription-Replication Collisions in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11460190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A drug target study in small cell lung cancer explores how blocking ABL kinase affects conflicts between transcription and DNA replication, which could influence tumor growth and survival.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,454 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA318002-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11460190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with small cell lung cancer or related neuroendocrine lung cancers may be relevant future trial candidates or biomarker studies based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without small cell lung cancer or without tumors that rely on transcription-coupled repair pathways may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This research looks at how stopping ABL kinase activity changes the way cancer cells manage transcription and DNA replication, potentially causing more DNA damage in cancer cells. The team has found that inhibiting ABL increases transcription-replication conflicts and slows tumor growth in mouse models. By studying human cancer cell lines and animal models, they aim to understand the mechanism and its impact on cancer cell survival. The findings could guide future strategies to exploit these conflicts for therapeutic benefit in aggressive lung cancer. The project is led by Ann Marie Pendergast at Duke University and runs from 2026 to 2031.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to slow or stop growth of small cell lung cancer by manipulating transcription-replication dynamics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that targeting ABL pathways can affect tumor growth in model systems, but translating to patients requires clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pendergast, Ann Marie — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Pendergast, Ann Marie
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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.