Blocking AXL to improve treatment for aggressive endometrial cancer
Project 2: Inhibiting AXL to Improve Treatment Response in Endometrial Cancer
This project tests whether adding batiraxcept (AVB-500), an AXL-blocking drug, to standard paclitaxel helps people with recurrent aggressive endometrial cancers respond better to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191545 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive batiraxcept together with standard paclitaxel chemotherapy while doctors monitor side effects and tumor response. The team will collect blood and tumor tissue to look for markers that predict who benefits and to understand how AXL blocking changes tumor biology. Researchers plan to enroll people with recurrent uterine serous carcinoma or grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer and follow them during treatment at the trial site. Findings may also inform combining AXL blockade with anti-angiogenic therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with recurrent uterine serous carcinoma or grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer who are eligible for paclitaxel chemotherapy are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with low-grade endometrial cancers, those who are not candidates for paclitaxel, or tumors lacking AXL-related biology may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could improve how well chemotherapy works for aggressive endometrial cancers and help identify patients most likely to benefit.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical data and early laboratory results show batiraxcept can boost response to paclitaxel and may enhance anti-VEGF drugs, but clear clinical benefit is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mutch, David G — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mutch, David G
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.