ASPH-targeted treatment for chondrosarcoma
Official title: ASPH Targeted Therapy for Chondrosarcoma
Funded at Rhode Island Hospital · NIH-11224056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment that targets the ASPH protein is being developed for adults with chondrosarcoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | December 22, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,995 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA270795-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11224056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with chondrosarcoma—especially those with high-grade or metastatic disease that do not respond to standard surgery—would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with low-grade chondrosarcoma that is effectively managed by surgery or whose tumors do not express ASPH may not benefit from these therapies.
What this research studies
This project focuses on treating chondrosarcoma by targeting a protein called ASPH that is turned back on in most tumors. Researchers plan to develop therapies that either block ASPH signaling or use ASPH as a target to deliver cancer-killing drugs, and they will study how this affects pathways (like Notch, MMPs, and VEGF) that help tumors grow and spread. The work includes laboratory tests on tumor samples and models plus analysis of human tumor tissue to link ASPH levels to tumor grade and outcomes. Promising preclinical results could support future early-phase clinical trials for patients with advanced disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow tumor growth and spread, improving survival and quality of life for people with chondrosarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: ASPH-targeting approaches have shown promise in laboratory studies and in some other cancers, but they are largely new for chondrosarcoma.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terek, Richard M — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: Terek, Richard M
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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.