ADCK4‑NUMBL gene fusion linked to aggressive lung adenocarcinoma

Understanding the biology of an ADCK4-NUMBL fusion in lung adenocarcinoma aggressiveness

NIH-funded research H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11174428

Researchers are looking at whether a specific gene fusion called ADCK4‑NUMBL is tied to more aggressive lung adenocarcinoma in patients whose tumors lack common driver mutations.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tampa, United States)
Project IDNIH-11174428 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research looks at a gene fusion named ADCK4‑NUMBL that shows up in some lung adenocarcinomas. The team measures the fusion RNA levels in tumor samples and in lung cell lines, and compares patients with high versus low fusion expression to see how it relates to survival. Lab work includes detecting the fusion protein and manipulating its expression in cells to study effects on cancer behavior. The goal is to understand whether the fusion contributes to tumor aggressiveness and could point to new markers or targets.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with lung adenocarcinoma—particularly those whose tumors lack common oncogenic drivers or who have KRAS-mutant tumors—would be most relevant to this research.

Not a fit: People without lung cancer or whose tumors are already driven by well-established targetable mutations are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a new prognostic marker and a potential target for therapies for a subset of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

How similar studies have performed: Gene fusions have been effective targets in other cancers, but the ADCK4‑NUMBL cis‑fusion is a newer, understudied finding, so this specific approach is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Tampa, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.