Ctr9 predicts which breast cancers respond to EZH2-blocking drugs
Ctr9 as a Predictive Biomarker for EZH2 Inhibitor Sensitivity
This work looks at whether levels of a protein called Ctr9 can show which estrogen-receptor–positive breast cancers might respond to EZH2-blocking medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299568 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about research on a protein called Ctr9 that helps keep many breast cancers in an estrogen-receptor–positive (luminal) state. Scientists will reduce Ctr9 in breast cancer cell lines and measure changes in ER protein levels, repressive chromatin marks (H3K27me3), and the activity of related proteins Jarid2 and KDM6A. They will test whether Ctr9-deficient cells become highly sensitive to EZH2 inhibitors like the FDA-approved drug tazemetostat, and may compare findings with patient tumor samples. The team aims to find a marker that could help doctors choose EZH2-blocking drugs for patients whose tumors have become resistant to endocrine therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with estrogen-receptor–positive (luminal) breast cancer, especially those whose tumors show endocrine therapy resistance or signs of low Ctr9 activity.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer or whose tumors do not show Ctr9-related changes or EZH2-driven biology are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify patients whose breast cancers are more likely to respond to EZH2 inhibitors and guide targeted use of these drugs.
How similar studies have performed: EZH2 inhibitors like tazemetostat have shown benefit in some other cancers and preclinical models, but using Ctr9 as a predictive marker in breast cancer is a newer, less-tested idea.
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.