Blocking APOBEC3 to prevent squamous changes in bladder cancer
Targeting APOBEC3-induced squamous differentiation in bladder cancer
This work explores if blocking the APOBEC3 enzyme can prevent squamous changes and slow tumor growth in people with urothelial bladder cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers created mice that express the human APOBEC3 enzyme in bladder cells and compared tumors from those mice with control animals. Tumors with APOBEC3 appeared sooner and showed squamous differentiation, a change linked to more aggressive disease. The team will study the molecular steps by which APOBEC3 drives these changes and test ways to block its activity in cells and animals. Findings are intended to point toward therapies that target APOBEC3 or its downstream pathways in patients whose tumors show this signature.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with urothelial (bladder) cancer, especially those whose tumors show squamous features or an APOBEC mutation signature, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with non-urothelial bladder cancers, tumors lacking APOBEC-related changes, or non-cancer bladder conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reduce mutation-driven progression and lower the risk of aggressive squamous bladder cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows APOBEC3 causes many mutations in bladder cancer, but directly targeting APOBEC3 is a relatively new approach still at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, William Y. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Kim, William Y.
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.