DCLK2–TBK1 signaling as a target in clear cell kidney cancer
Official title: Identification of DCLK2-TBK1 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target in kidney cancer
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11166330 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find ways to block the DCLK2–TBK1 pathway to slow growth of clear cell kidney cancer, especially tumors that have lost the VHL gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $469,848 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284591-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166330 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, particularly those whose tumors show VHL loss or TBK1 pathway activation and who are treated at centers that could join future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non–clear cell kidney cancers or tumors without VHL loss are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical research in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers are focused on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common and often treatment-resistant form of kidney cancer, to find new drug targets linked to VHL loss. They will use lab methods such as kinome-wide siRNA screens, cell and animal models, and molecular analyses to map how DCLK2 and TBK1 interact to promote tumor growth. The team will test whether blocking this signaling axis reduces tumor cell proliferation and metastasis while monitoring effects on immune signaling. Findings are intended to guide development of more specific drugs and biomarkers to identify patients who might benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise therapies for VHL-deficient kidney cancer that slow tumor growth while preserving normal immune function.
How similar studies have gone: HIF2α inhibitors have helped a subset of ccRCC patients and preclinical data show TBK1 inhibition can block VHL-deficient tumor growth, but targeting the DCLK2–TBK1 axis is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
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Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Qing — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Qing
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Optimizing Anti-PD1 Therapy for High-Risk and Metastatic Kidney Cancer
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Targeting the HIF2 Pathway in Kidney Cancer
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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.