BRCA1-mutant cancers: how new PALB2 pathways could overcome resistance to therapy
Official title: Compensatory Mechanisms that Promote Homologous Recombination in BRCA1 Mutant Cancers
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11401760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant is exploring how BRCA1-mutant cancers become resistant to PARP inhibitor therapy by uncovering new PALB2-related mechanisms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,222,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA214799-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with BRCA1/2-mutant cancers who may develop resistance to PARP inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without BRCA1/2 mutations or those not treated with PARP inhibitors may not benefit.
What this research studies
If your BRCA1-associated cancer is treated with PARP inhibitors, resistance can develop. This project studies genes that affect PALB2 recruitment to DNA damage sites and how those changes might let cancer cells survive despite therapy. Scientists will use mouse models of BRCA1-mutant cancer to test how PALB2 and its regulators influence DNA repair and drug resistance. The goal is to map molecular features necessary for homologous recombination and understand how PALB2 inhibition contributes to PARPi resistance. These findings could reveal new angles for treatment in BRCA1-mutant cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: New insights could lead to better strategies to overcome therapy resistance in BRCA1-mutant cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models have shown PALB2 and its regulators can influence DNA repair and drug resistance, supporting the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Neil — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Neil
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.