Drugs that target GSTO1 to treat colorectal cancer
Preclinical Development of First-in-Class GSTO1 Degraders for Colorectal Cancer
Developing new medicines that remove a cancer-linked protein called GSTO1 to help people with colorectal cancer, especially those with treatment-resistant tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140449 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is designing and testing drug candidates that degrade GSTO1, a protein that can make colorectal tumors resistant to therapy. Researchers use lab-grown cancer cells, 3D tumor spheroids, genetic tools like CRISPR, proteomics, and animal models to see which compounds work best. The team has already created very potent GSTO1 inhibitors and prototype degraders and will optimize the lead molecules for safety and effectiveness. They also look for molecular markers that could indicate which patients' tumors are most likely to respond.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer—particularly those whose tumors show high GSTO1 activity or who have resistance to standard chemotherapy—would be the ideal future candidates.
Not a fit: People without colorectal cancer or whose tumors do not rely on GSTO1 are unlikely to benefit from these specific drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new treatments that shrink colorectal tumors or restore sensitivity to existing chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab and animal studies of GSTO1 inhibitors have shown promising tumor control, but these approaches have not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neamati, Nouri — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Neamati, Nouri
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.