Blocking a cancer fuel to boost targeted radiation for prostate and kidney cancers
Targeting glutamine metabolism to enhance the efficacy of radiopharmaceutical therapy
Testing whether stopping cancer cells from using a fuel called glutamine can make PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals work better for prostate and kidney cancers.
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 ID | NIH-11262198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how targeted radiation drugs that seek out PSMA affect cancer cells’ use of glutamine and whether adding drugs that block glutamine use makes those cancers more vulnerable. The team will use approved PSMA-directed radiopharmaceuticals (Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225 linked agents) in laboratory and experimental cancer models of prostate and renal cell carcinoma and combine them with glutaminase inhibitors. Researchers will measure tumor cell death, metabolic changes, and signs that the combination is more effective than radiation alone. The goal is to create a mechanism-driven combination that could move toward clinical testing in patients with PSMA-positive tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with prostate cancer—especially metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that shows PSMA on tumor cells—or patients with PSMA-positive renal cell carcinoma would be the most likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express PSMA or whose cancers do not depend on glutamine metabolism are unlikely to benefit from this specific combination.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to combination treatments that make targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy more effective at shrinking or controlling PSMA-expressing prostate and kidney tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work combining glutamine-blocking drugs with conventional radiotherapy has shown promise, but combining glutaminase inhibition with PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Sangeeta — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ray, Sangeeta
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 below.