Cirtuvivint plus PARP inhibitor in BRCA/HRD ovarian cancer
Official title: Evaluation of combination CLK/DYRK (Cirtuvivint) inhibition with PARP inhibition (Olaparib) in BRCA/HRD platinum resistant ovarian cancer
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11398114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment approach combines a CLK/DYRK inhibitor with a PARP inhibitor to help women with BRCA mutations or HRD ovarian cancer who have become resistant to platinum therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,201,333 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA288651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with BRCA1/2-mutant or HRD-associated ovarian cancer who have exhausted standard platinum-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without BRCA/HRD status or with cancers unlikely to respond to PARP inhibitors or CLK/DYRK inhibition may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether adding cirtuvivint to Olaparib can overcome PARP resistance in ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutations or HRD. The research leverages preclinical data showing cirtuvivint may boost anti-tumor effects by altering RNA splicing, dampening Wnt signaling, and increasing R-loop formation. If successful, this combination could offer a new option for patients who currently face limited chances after PARP resistance. The team will use established ovarian cancer models to test the combination and study the underlying biology to guide potential clinical translation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain a new therapy that delays resistance and improves outcomes in BRCA/HRD ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests combining similar pathways can enhance PARP inhibitor effects, but this exact combination is in earlier preclinical/vetting stages.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corr, Bradley — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Corr, Bradley
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mitotic MTH1 Inhibitors for Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
A treatment approach targeting a specific cancer cell weakness (MTH1) to help women whose ovarian cancer stopped responding to platinum-based therapy.
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Targeting cancer-specific protein variants to guide T-cell therapy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
Aims to find unique protein variants in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer to guide T-cell receptor therapy for patients.
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Why some ovarian cancers resist platinum chemotherapy: changes in tumor metabolism
This project looks at how ovarian tumors change their metabolism when they stop responding to platinum chemotherapy and seeks new targets and markers to help women with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
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Cirtuvivint plus olaparib for BRCA/HRD ovarian cancer that stopped responding to platinum
This work adds cirtuvivint to the PARP drug olaparib to try to help people with BRCA-mutated or homologous recombination–deficient ovarian cancer that no longer responds to platinum chemotherapy.
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Finding new treatments for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer using T-cell therapy
This study is looking for new ways to help patients with tough-to-treat ovarian cancer by analyzing their tumor samples to find specific targets that can be attacked by the immune system, which could lead to better treatments for them.
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Exploring how ovarian cancer cells change metabolism to resist treatment
This study is looking into why some patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer stop responding to standard platinum treatments, and it hopes to find new ways to help those patients by understanding how their cancer cells change and adapt.
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.