Disulfiram/Copper as a new approach to making chordoma more treatable
Official title: Disulfiram/Copper as a Dual Senolytic Strategy Targeting Tumor and Immune Cell Senescence in Chordoma
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11571230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests a drug combo to help people with chordoma by making tumor cells and immune cells easier to target and by boosting how well radiation and PD-1 therapies work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U01FD008980-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11571230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chordoma who are candidates for radiotherapy and immune-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chordoma who cannot receive radiation or immunotherapy may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on chordoma, a rare bone cancer, and seeks to improve how the body fights it when radiation is used. Researchers will test a combination of disulfiram and copper to selectively kill senescent cells that build up after radiation and dampen the immune response. The team will also explore the potential of combining this senolytic approach with radiation and PD-1 blockade to enhance anti-tumor immunity. The work builds on preliminary data that suggest DSF/Cu can act as a senolytic radiosensitizer in chordoma, with DT2216 as a backup option. The study is conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital under a U01 mechanism and spans a defined 2026–2028 timeline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with chordoma could experience better local control of the tumor and improved responses to radiation and immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior data in chordoma suggest senolytics can improve tumor control when combined with radiation and immunotherapy, but this exact approach is being tested in this disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xinhui — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xinhui
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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.