Blocking Wnt signaling in treatment-resistant ovarian cancer
Targeting Wnt signaling in therapy-resistant ovarian cancer
This work looks at whether adding a new drug that blocks Wnt/β-catenin to immune checkpoint therapy can help the immune system attack ovarian cancers that stopped responding to PARP inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131178 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use lab-grown cancer cells and patient-derived tumors grown in mice to mimic treatment-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer. They will test a first-in-class allosteric β-catenin inhibitor called 1525, alone and combined with immune checkpoint blockade, to see if the tumor immune environment becomes more active. The team will measure immune markers such as PD-L1 and IRF1 and study T cell and macrophage responses after treatment. Success in these preclinical models would guide whether combining Wnt inhibition and immunotherapy could be tried in patients with PARP-resistant ovarian cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer whose tumors have developed resistance to PARP inhibitors, including some with BRCA1/2-related disease.
Not a fit: People without high-grade serous ovarian cancer or whose tumors still respond to PARP inhibitors are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore responsiveness to therapy and make immunotherapy more effective for people with PARP-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory work showed Wnt/β-catenin can drive PARP inhibitor resistance and immune suppression, but combining a β-catenin allosteric inhibitor with checkpoint blockade is a relatively new preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bitler, Benjamin G — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bitler, Benjamin G
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.