Alpha-emitter therapy for osteosarcoma in teens and young adults
Official title: Alpha-Emitter Therapy of Osteosarcoma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11348895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins study will test a targeted alpha-radiation therapy (225Ac-Hu3F8) to treat osteosarcoma in teens and young adults by using an antibody that homes in on GD2 to kill cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,996,005 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA285588-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with osteosarcoma, especially adolescents and young adults, who could be eligible for future or related human trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express GD2 or who cannot tolerate radiopharmaceutical therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new treatment approach for osteosarcoma that has not seen major breakthroughs in decades. Researchers will test safety and potential effectiveness of an alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical linked to an anti-GD2 antibody in a naturally occurring large-animal model (dogs with osteosarcoma). The goal is to see whether this targeted therapy can overcome resistance to traditional treatments and provide a new option for patients when current therapies fail. The study uses a two-cycle treatment plan with Actinium-225 to deliver potent, localized radiation to cancer sites while aiming to limit harm to healthy tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, more effective option for treating metastatic osteosarcoma and potentially improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies in animals have shown targeted alpha therapies can be highly potent against similar cancers, but human data are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kraitchman, Dara L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kraitchman, Dara L
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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.