Blocking APOBEC3A to prevent drug-resistant bladder cancer
Targeting APOBEC3A-induced genetic heterogeneity and drug resistance in bladder cancer
This work tries to stop a gene called APOBEC3A from causing genetic changes that make bladder cancer resist treatment, aiming to help people with advanced urothelial carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161623 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will define how APOBEC3A creates genetic diversity within bladder tumors that leads to resistant cancer cells. They will use lab-grown cancer cell lines and organoids made from patient tumors to trace the mutations APOBEC3A causes and to find weaknesses those mutations create. Using these models, the team will test strategies to block APOBEC3A activity or selectively eliminate APOBEC3A-active tumor cells. The goal is to develop precision approaches that can be combined with current therapies to reduce relapse from drug-resistant clones.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, especially those whose tumors show signs of APOBEC3A activity or who have developed resistance to systemic treatments.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage bladder cancer, tumors without APOBEC3A activity, or other cancer types may not receive direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the emergence of treatment-resistant bladder cancer cells and help patients stay responsive to therapy longer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies link APOBEC enzymes to mutation-driven resistance, but directly targeting APOBEC3A is largely novel and has not yet produced established clinical treatments.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Faltas, Bishoy Morris — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Faltas, Bishoy Morris
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.