Drugs that remove beta‑catenin for colorectal cancer
Project 3: Characterization of Beta-Catenin Degraders for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Testing a new type of drug that breaks down beta‑catenin to treat colorectal cancers driven by Wnt pathway mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196629 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating small molecules called PROTACs that stick to beta‑catenin and trigger the cell to destroy it, because beta‑catenin drives most colorectal cancers. In lab dishes these compounds block Wnt signaling and slow the growth of cancer cells and 3‑D tumor spheroids. The team has also tested the compounds in mouse tumor models and seen reduced tumor signaling and growth. The work is focused on improving these molecules, understanding how they work, and gathering safety data needed before any future human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer whose tumors show activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway or beta‑catenin mutations would be the intended candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by Wnt/β‑catenin signaling, or who have other non‑colorectal cancers, are less likely to benefit from these drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a new targeted treatment that shuts down Wnt‑driven colorectal tumors, including cancers resistant to current options.
How similar studies have performed: Protein‑targeting PROTAC drugs have shown promise in lab studies and early trials for other targets, but using PROTACs to degrade beta‑catenin for colorectal cancer is a novel approach so far tested only in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fesik, Stephen W. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Fesik, Stephen W.
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.