Blocking a cancer-promoting protein interaction to slow lung tumors
Pdcd4-Rictor Interaction in Suppression of Lung Tumorigenesis
This project tests a small peptide that blocks a protein interaction to slow or stop growth of non-small cell lung cancers, especially tumors with Rictor amplification.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162387 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how the protein Pdcd4 binds to Rictor to turn down a cancer-promoting pathway called mTORC2. They will use lab-grown cancer cells and mouse models to see whether a short peptide that mimics Pdcd4 can reduce tumor cell growth and lower levels of a metabolism-related enzyme (PFKFB3). The team has shown the peptide can block mTORC2 without affecting the related mTORC1 pathway, and they will refine and test this approach further. The work is focused on understanding the mechanism and proving the peptide can suppress non-small cell lung cancer growth in preclinical models.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future clinical testing would be people with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors show Rictor amplification or high mTORC2 activity.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not rely on Rictor/mTORC2 signaling or those with unrelated cancer types may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new targeted therapy that better controls growth of Rictor-driven lung tumors and improve outcomes for those patients.
How similar studies have performed: Existing mTOR-targeting drugs have had mixed results, and selective mTORC2 inhibition via a Rictor-binding peptide is a relatively new, mostly preclinical strategy.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Hsin-Sheng — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Yang, Hsin-Sheng
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.