Blocking cancer cells' repair switch to prevent relapse
Mechanism-based targeting of unique survival signaling in residual tumors
This research tests whether blocking a DNA-repair protein called ATM can help targeted cancer drugs finish off leftover tumor cells in people with cancers such as EGFR-mutant lung cancer and some leukemias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259491 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found that a subset of tumor cells survive targeted drugs by developing DNA breaks and then using an ATM-dependent repair pathway to survive. In lab and animal experiments, combining targeted therapies with drugs that block ATM killed these leftover cells and produced durable responses. The project will use cellular models, animal studies, and analysis of human tumor samples to understand the survival signaling and to identify situations where ATM blockers could help. The goal is to define whether and how adding ATM inhibitors to current targeted treatments might prevent relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people whose tumors are driven by specific oncogenes (for example EGFR-mutant lung cancer) or patients with residual disease after targeted therapy, and who might be eligible for future combination trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by the studied oncogenes or whose tumors do not rely on ATM-dependent DNA repair are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce relapse by helping targeted therapies eliminate residual cancer cells and extend patients' remissions.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical lab and animal studies of this combination have shown promising results, but clinical testing in patients has been limited so far.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, Kris C. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Wood, Kris C.
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.