Better mouse models to speed treatments for cancers caused by mutant p53

Optimizing Syngeneic Mouse Models to Target Mutant p53

NIH-funded research Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11307091

This project builds improved lab mouse models to help develop treatments for people whose cancers are driven by mutant p53, including those with Li‑Fraumeni syndrome.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBaylor College of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11307091 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From a patient perspective, researchers are making and refining immune‑compatible (syngeneic) mouse tumors that carry the same mutant p53 changes seen in many human cancers. They will use these mice to test drugs that aim to restore normal p53 function and to compare how well these models predict treatment responses. The work is meant to make preclinical testing more reliable so promising therapies move to human trials with better evidence. Ultimately the team will compare these models to other common cancer models to find which best mimics human disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with tumors that have mutant p53, and individuals with Li‑Fraumeni syndrome who are at high risk for p53‑driven cancers, would be the likely candidates for future trials informed by this work.

Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not involve p53 mutations or who have noncancer conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed up and improve preclinical testing so effective mutant p53‑targeting therapies reach patients sooner.

How similar studies have performed: Related small molecules that aim to reactivate mutant p53 have shown promise in laboratory studies and early‑phase trials, but none are yet FDA approved, so this builds on partly tested approaches.

Where this research is happening

Houston, 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.