Epigenetic subtypes of osteosarcoma linked to chemo resistance and spread
Official title: Epigenetic analysis of osteosarcoma to define subclasses relevant to chemoresistance and metastasis
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11305266 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for different molecular subtypes of osteosarcoma in children and young adults to understand why some tumors resist chemotherapy or spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $540,305 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA292790-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11305266 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children, adolescents, and young adults with newly diagnosed or recurrent osteosarcoma who can provide tumor tissue or enroll in related tissue/clinical protocols would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People without available osteosarcoma tumor samples, those with other types of cancer, or patients seeking immediate standard‑of‑care treatment rather than research participation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The team will analyze tumor epigenetics using ATAC‑seq and other markers to define distinct osteosarcoma subtypes driven by different transcription factor networks. They will use focused CRISPRi screens in lab-grown cells and animal models to find subtype-specific weaknesses that drugs could target. Multi‑omics and spatial transcriptomics will map differences within individual tumors to understand mixed cell populations. The researchers aim to link these subtypes to drug responses and to suggest combination strategies that might work better than current one‑size‑fits‑all chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests that predict which tumors are likely to resist chemotherapy and to new targeted or combination treatments that are more effective and less toxic.
How similar studies have gone: Epigenetic profiling and CRISPR screening have shown promise in other cancers, but applying these approaches specifically to osteosarcoma subtypes and treatment selection is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sweet-Cordero, Eric Alejandro — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Sweet-Cordero, Eric Alejandro
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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.