Blocking CDK7 as a new approach for aggressive ovarian cancer
Official title: Targeting CDK7 in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11131193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores whether blocking a protein called CDK7 can help treat women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, especially tumors with CDK7 loss or BRCA-related DNA repair problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $443,232 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262070-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with advanced high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, particularly those whose tumors show CDK7 hemizygous loss or BRCA1/2 mutations, would be the best match.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other ovarian cancer subtypes or tumors that lack CDK7 changes are less likely to benefit from CDK7-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
Researchers are testing drugs that block CDK7, a protein some ovarian tumors rely on, using tumor samples and laboratory models to see which cancers are most vulnerable. They are focusing on high-grade serous ovarian cancer and tumors that have lost one copy of CDK7 or have BRCA1/2-related defects. The team will also look at whether CDK7 blockade makes tumors more sensitive to existing DNA-damaging treatments like PARP inhibitors or platinum chemotherapy. The goal is to identify tumor features that predict benefit and to guide future treatment options for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking CDK7 could slow tumor growth and make ovarian cancers more responsive to existing therapies such as PARP inhibitors and platinum drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have shown CDK7 inhibitors can kill cancer cells and boost sensitivity to DNA-damaging drugs, but clinical use in patients remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Lin — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Lin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using imaging data to predict outcomes in ovarian cancer patients
This study is looking at how regular CT scans can be used to find important clues that help predict how well women with a specific type of ovarian cancer might do after treatment, so doctors can make better choices for their care.
-
Hippo/YAP pathway in aggressive ovarian cancer
Researchers aim to find out how a cell-control system called Hippo/YAP helps start and drive the most deadly form of ovarian cancer in women.
-
New methods to treat a specific type of ovarian cancer
This study is looking at a tough type of ovarian cancer called high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma to find out why it often doesn't respond to regular treatments, and it's testing new therapy combinations to help improve outcomes for patients like you.
-
A new CAR T cell therapy targeting ovarian cancer
This study is testing a new type of CAR T cell therapy for women with ovarian cancer that uses special immune cells to better target the cancer and includes a safety feature to help protect patients from side effects.
-
Combining trametinib and navitoclax to treat recurrent ovarian cancer
This study is testing a new combination treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer that hasn't responded to standard therapies, aiming to see if it can help improve their outcomes.
-
Targeting a specific protein to treat advanced ovarian cancer
This study is looking at a new way to help people with advanced ovarian cancer by targeting a specific protein that helps cancer cells survive, hoping to make current treatments work better for those who have few options left.
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.