Blocking a resistance pathway to help paclitaxel work better in pancreatic cancer
Targeting MARK2-HDAC signaling to overcome paclitaxel resistance in pancreatic cancer
Researchers are testing whether blocking the MARK2-HDAC pathway can help the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel kill pancreatic cancer cells more effectively for people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181569 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on a molecular pathway (MARK2 and class IIa HDACs) that appears to make pancreatic cancer cells resistant to paclitaxel. Scientists will use lab-grown pancreatic cancer cells and animal models to map how MARK2 modifies HDAC4 after paclitaxel treatment and how that change turns on survival genes. They will test whether inhibiting HDACs or disrupting the MARK2-HDAC link makes tumors more sensitive to paclitaxel. The team aims to identify markers that predict who might not respond to paclitaxel and show preclinical proof that combining HDAC blockers with paclitaxel could overcome resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma—especially those whose tumors are or become resistant to paclitaxel—would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients without pancreatic cancer or those whose care does not involve paclitaxel are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new combination treatments that make paclitaxel more effective for people with paclitaxel-resistant pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Combining HDAC inhibitors with chemotherapy has shown promise in some preclinical and early clinical work, but directly targeting the MARK2-HDAC4 link in paclitaxel resistance is a newer, largely preclinical idea.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Jixin — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Dong, Jixin
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.