Blocking harmful MAPK and PPARG signals in bladder cancer
Dissecting and Targeting MAPK - PPARG Crosstalk in Bladder Cancer
This project will try drugs that block MAPK signaling to help people whose bladder tumors have MAPK and PPARG changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319831 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how MAPK and PPARG signals work together in bladder tumors using patient tumor samples, lab-grown cancer cells, and animal models. They will test new MAPK-directed drugs such as RAF dimerization inhibitors in these models to see if blocking MAPK also changes PPARG-driven tumor behavior. The team will use genomic data to find tumors with both MAPK activation and PPARG alterations and use those models to guide possible drug combinations. The ultimate aim is to identify approaches that could reverse the immune-excluded, luminal-like tumor features and move promising options into clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with bladder cancer whose tumors show MAPK activation (for example RAF1 amplification or HRAS mutation) together with PPARG alterations or increased PPARG signaling.
Not a fit: People whose tumors do not have MAPK or PPARG changes, or those with other types of cancer, are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted treatment options that improve outcomes for patients with MAPK/PPARG-altered bladder cancer.
How similar studies have performed: MAPK inhibitors have shown promise in other cancers, but combining MAPK targeting with PPARG-focused strategies in bladder cancer is a novel approach that has not been widely tested clinically.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mouw, Kent W — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Mouw, Kent W
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.