Drugs that block Wnt signals to fight colorectal and other cancers
Therapeutic targeting of Wnt signaling in cancer
This project is developing new small-molecule drugs to stop abnormal Wnt/β-catenin signals that help colorectal and other cancers grow.
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 ID | NIH-11228396 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating small molecules to shut down a faulty Wnt/β-catenin pathway that drives tumor growth, with a focus on colorectal cancer. The team is designing chemicals that target tankyrases, proteins that can support Wnt signaling, and aims to control their non‑enzymatic (scaffolding/aggregation) functions. Laboratory tests using cancer cell models and related preclinical experiments will show how these molecules change beta‑catenin levels and tumor behavior. Promising lab results would set the stage for later drug development and possible clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer or other tumors known to have abnormal Wnt/β-catenin signaling would be the most relevant candidates for treatments born from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are driven by unrelated pathways or who lack Wnt/β-catenin activation are unlikely to benefit from these drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted drugs that slow or stop tumor growth in patients with Wnt-driven cancers like colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier tankyrase and Wnt-targeting approaches showed lab promise but had mixed or disappointing preclinical outcomes, so this novel chemical strategy aims to overcome those problems.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chuo — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chuo
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.