CTR9 gene changes in Wilms tumor and possible treatments
Mechanism and treatment of Wilms Tumors caused by CTR9 mutations
Seeing whether a missing piece of the CTR9 gene makes Wilms tumors more aggressive and could point to better treatments for children with Wilms tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262224 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child’s tumor has a CTR9 change, researchers will recreate the missing exon in Wilms tumor cells and use gene-editing and lab tests to study how that change alters tumor behavior. They will implant those modified tumor cells into mice to watch how the tumors grow compared with normal cells. The team will analyze how the CTR9 change disrupts transcription and RNA splicing and how that leads to stem-cell–like features. Those laboratory findings will be used to identify potential targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with Wilms tumor—especially those with a family history or known CTR9 mutations—would be the most relevant patients for this work and any future trials it enables.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not involve CTR9 mutations or who have unrelated types of kidney cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify targets within the CTR9-related pathway that lead to new treatments for children with aggressive or relapsed Wilms tumor.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory work so far shows CTR9 exon 9 deletion makes tumor cells more stem-like and grow faster in mice, but translating that finding into treatments is new.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Wei — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Xu, Wei
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.