Cyclin C and CDK8/19 proteins in development and cancer
Cyclin C-CDK8/19 kinases in development and in cancer
Researchers are discovering how proteins called cyclin C and CDK8/19 drive tumor growth to help guide new treatments for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295451 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at proteins called cyclin C and the kinases CDK8 and CDK19 that control gene activity inside cells. The team studies these proteins in tumor samples, cell lines, and mouse models to see how they promote cancer. They will test small-molecule inhibitors in preclinical models to learn whether blocking CDK8/19 can slow tumor growth. The work aims to link laboratory findings to cancers that show high levels of these proteins so future treatments might be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People whose tumors show high levels of cyclin C, CDK8, or CDK19 — or cancers previously linked to CDK8/19 activity — would be the most relevant group for follow-up trials or therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not express these proteins or are driven by unrelated mechanisms are unlikely to benefit from therapies targeting CDK8/19.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targeted drugs that slow tumor growth and improve outcomes for patients whose cancers depend on cyclin C/CDK8/19.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work, including cell-line and mouse xenograft studies, has shown that CDK8/19 inhibitors can reduce tumor growth, but clinical benefit in people has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sicinski, Peter — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Sicinski, Peter
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.