Dual targeting of heart cell receptors to prevent chemotherapy heart damage
Official title: Dual targeting chemokine receptors prevents chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11536674 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Atrial patients receiving the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin may be protected from heart damage by targeting two heart cell receptors at once.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,894 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL174922-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536674 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing doxorubicin chemotherapy who are at risk for or concerned about cardiotoxicity could benefit from future protective strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving doxorubicin or those without cardiotoxicity risk may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how two receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, interact with the SDF-1 (CXCL12) signal in the heart to prevent damage caused by doxorubicin. Researchers aim to identify a strategy that modulates these receptors to reduce toxicity to heart tissue while keeping cancer treatment effective. The work combines laboratory studies and data analysis to understand how SDF-1/CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCR7 signaling affects heart cells, inflammation, and regeneration after chemotherapy. If successful, this could lead to new ways to protect patients’ hearts during chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce chemotherapy-related heart damage and allow higher or more effective cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows SDF-1/CXCR4 and CXCR7 pathways influence heart biology, with mixed results; this study seeks to clarify and translate those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tan, Yi — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Tan, Yi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Genetic clues for doxorubicin heart risk using patient-derived heart cells
A research project tests how human heart cells grown from stem cells react to a common chemotherapy to see which genetic differences may raise the risk of heart damage.
-
Targeting STK3 to protect the heart during breast cancer treatment
A new approach tests whether blocking STK3 can protect the heart from chemotherapy damage without reducing its cancer-fighting effect in breast cancer patients.
-
PET imaging to detect heart damage from chemotherapy
This research tests a new PET imaging tracer to detect early heart muscle damage in people who have received cancer chemotherapy.
-
PPAR-alpha and sex differences in chemotherapy-related heart injury
This project looks at why doxorubicin causes different heart side effects in men and women, and tests heart-protective ideas to help patients who need this chemotherapy.
-
Preventing heart damage from chemotherapy in older lymphoma patients
This study is looking to help older adults with lymphoma by finding ways to prevent heart damage from chemotherapy, figuring out who might be at risk, and understanding what patients and doctors prefer when it comes to treatment options.
-
Preventing chemo-related heart damage in African American children
This project uses patients' own lab-grown heart cells to find genetic risks and ways to stop heart damage from the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in African American children treated for cancer.
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.