Abnormal protein assemblies that change gene activity in Ewing sarcoma
Official title: Phase separation control of transcription in Ewing sarcoma
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11239764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether abnormal protein clumps made by the EWS‑FLI1 fusion change gene activity in Ewing sarcoma tumors to find new treatment targets for adolescents and young adults with this bone cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | December 16, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,443 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA259570-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients most relevant to this project are adolescents or young adults with Ewing sarcoma whose tumors carry EWS‑FLI1 or other FET‑family fusions, or individuals willing to contribute tumor samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
People with unrelated cancers, non-Ewing bone conditions, or tumors that do not involve FET‑family translocations are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This work studies how the EWS‑FLI1 fusion protein and related FET proteins form tiny, membrane‑free assemblies (granules) in cells and how those assemblies change gene activity. Scientists isolate these granules from lab-grown cells and compare them to the cell's transcription machinery (RNA polymerase II) to see how gene control is altered. The team uses biochemical tests, advanced microscopy, and molecular methods in cell models and relevant tumor-derived material to map which genes are misregulated. Understanding how these protein assemblies drive tumor behavior could point to molecules that block the process and slow or stop tumor growth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal specific mechanisms and molecules to target with new therapies for Ewing sarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Recent laboratory studies have shown FET proteins can form phase‑separated assemblies that affect transcription, but turning that mechanistic knowledge into therapies is novel and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, Jacob C. — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, Jacob C.
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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.