Combining ceritinib with PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancer
Project 3: Repurposing Ceritinib for Ovarian Cancer Therapy
This project tests whether adding the drug ceritinib to PARP inhibitor treatment helps people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, including tumors that have become resistant to PARP inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178542 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring a new use for ceritinib, a drug approved for lung cancer, by pairing it with PARP inhibitors already used in ovarian cancer. Lab work shows the combination raises reactive oxygen species and DNA damage in cancer cells, which makes tumors more dependent on PARP-based repair. The team has seen the combination shrink tumors and extend survival in patient-derived tumor models grown in mice. If these findings hold up, the next step would be clinical testing in people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, including both BRCA-mutant and BRCA-proficient tumors, especially those who have progressed on or become resistant to PARP inhibitors.
Not a fit: People without ovarian cancer or those who cannot tolerate ceritinib or PARP inhibitors due to other medical conditions are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could shrink tumors, delay progression, and help prevent or overcome resistance to PARP inhibitors for people with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies, including cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models, have shown promising synergy for ceritinib plus PARP inhibitors, but clinical benefit in patients has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karnitz, Larry M — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Karnitz, Larry M
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.