Blocking a melanoma enzyme called GCDH to kill cancer cells
GCDH Addiction in Melanoma
['FUNDING_R01'] · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11105871
This project is developing drugs that block a mitochondrial enzyme called GCDH to help kill melanoma cells in people with melanoma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11105871 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a mitochondrial enzyme (GCDH) that many melanoma tumors rely on for survival and have found this reliance in patient tumor samples. They plan to map how blocking GCDH changes a stress-signaling pathway (involving NRF2 and the unfolded protein response) that leads to cancer cell suicide. The team will make antibodies to track key protein changes and develop small-molecule GCDH inhibitors to test in laboratory melanoma cells and tumor specimens, and likely in animal models. Their work focuses on why this approach seems to kill melanoma cells but not some other cancer cell types.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with melanoma, especially those whose tumors show high GCDH activity or markers of the related NRF2-UPR pathway, would be the most relevant candidates for future therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not depend on GCDH (for example many liver, breast, or prostate tumors) or melanomas lacking GCDH dependence may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new drugs that selectively trigger death of melanoma cells and improve treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting cancer metabolic enzymes has shown preclinical promise in other cancers, but directly targeting GCDH and its NRF2-glutarylation pathway in melanoma is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: RONAI, ZEEV A. — CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: RONAI, ZEEV A.
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.