Biomarkers to match clear cell ovarian cancer patients to a new two‑drug therapy

Developing biomarkers of response for a new therapy in ovarian cancer

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11249538

It will find out whether tumor markers can show who with clear cell ovarian cancer might benefit from a new two‑drug treatment targeting ARID1A‑mutant tumors.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11249538 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have recurrent clear cell ovarian cancer, researchers will use tumor tissue and blood collected from people in a Phase Ib treatment effort to look for biological signals linked to good responses. They will focus on ARID1A mutations and test whether the combination of ATR and BET inhibitors works better in tumors with those changes. Lab work with patient‑derived tumor models will be used alongside the human samples to confirm which markers predict sensitivity. The goal is to develop reliable tests that could help doctors pick patients most likely to benefit from this targeted combination in future care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with recurrent clear cell ovarian cancer, especially those whose tumors have ARID1A loss or who are eligible for the related Phase Ib treatment effort.

Not a fit: Patients with non‑clear cell ovarian cancers or tumors without ARID1A alterations are less likely to benefit from the biomarkers developed here.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify patients most likely to respond to the ATR + BET inhibitor combination so treatment can be targeted to those individuals.

How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work shows ATR plus BET inhibition is synergistic in ARID1A‑loss models and a Phase Ib clinical effort has been launched, but clinical benefit in patients remains to be proven.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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.
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Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.