Creating new drugs to target a specific protein in aggressive breast cancer
Official title: Development of a new class of EZH2 inhibitors in ERa-negative breast cancer
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11002655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new treatments for estrogen receptor a-negative breast cancer by targeting a protein called EZH2, which could help make therapies more effective and have fewer side effects for patients who haven't had success with current options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $188,753 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA277399-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11002655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with estrogen receptor a-negative breast cancer who have limited treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of breast cancer or those whose cancer is not driven by EZH2 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new class of EZH2 inhibitors specifically for estrogen receptor a-negative (ERa-) breast cancer. The approach involves targeting the oncogenic functions of the EZH2 protein that are independent of its known enzymatic activity, which may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects. By understanding how EZH2 contributes to cancer progression, the researchers aim to create therapies that can better combat this aggressive form of breast cancer. Patients may benefit from these new treatments that could potentially improve outcomes for those who do not respond to existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with ERa-negative breast cancer, improving their chances of recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been previous studies on EZH2 inhibitors, this approach of targeting its non-enzymatic functions is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Kexin — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Xu, Kexin
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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.