Blocking SIK2 with GRN-300 to boost PARP therapy and T-cell attack in ovarian cancer

The SIK2 Inhibitor GRN-300 Enhances PARP Inhibitor Sensitivity and Cytotoxic T-Cell Function in Ovarian Cancer

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11413292

See if adding GRN-300, a drug that blocks SIK2, can help PARP medicines work better and strengthen the immune system's T cells in people with ovarian cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11413292 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are working with GRN-300, a SIK2 blocker, to try to make PARP inhibitor drugs more effective against ovarian cancer. They will study the combination in lab models and in patient-derived tumor samples, measuring cancer cell kill and the activity of cytotoxic T cells. The project is run at MD Anderson and may include translational work that informs early clinical testing and sample collection from patients. Findings will be used to design future trials if the combination appears safe and promising.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with ovarian cancer, especially those receiving or eligible for PARP inhibitor therapy (for example patients with BRCA mutations or other DNA-repair defects), would be the most relevant candidates.

Not a fit: People without ovarian cancer or whose tumors are not candidates for PARP inhibitor therapy are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help tumors that stop responding to PARP inhibitors become sensitive again and improve immune-mediated tumor control.

How similar studies have performed: PARP inhibitors are established treatments in ovarian cancer and combination strategies to overcome resistance have shown promise in preclinical and early clinical studies, but targeting SIK2 with GRN-300 is a newer approach that is largely untested in patients.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.