Blocking CDK7 to treat ovarian cancers with extra copies of CCNE1
Targeting CDK7 in CCNE1-amplified Ovarian Cancer
Researchers are trying to block the protein CDK7 to kill ovarian tumors that have extra copies of the CCNE1 gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on aggressive high-grade serous ovarian cancers that carry amplification and overexpression of the CCNE1 gene. In the lab, researchers use cancer cell lines to block CDK7, an upstream activator of CDK2, to see whether those CCNE1-amplified tumor cells selectively die. The team aims to turn this vulnerability into a drug approach for tumors that resist standard chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors. If the lab results are promising, the plan is to move toward testing drugs in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer whose tumor testing shows CCNE1 amplification or high cyclin E1 levels.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have CCNE1 amplification or whose disease is driven by other mechanisms are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a new targeted therapy for patients with CCNE1-amplified ovarian cancer who do not respond to current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies show CDK2 knockdown can kill CCNE1-amplified cells and initial lab work suggests CDK7 inhibition may work, but this approach has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gray, Nathanael Schiander — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Gray, Nathanael Schiander
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.