Ewing sarcoma: how DNA repair weaknesses affect risk and treatment
Official title: Dissecting the role of DNA damage repair deficiency in Ewing sarcoma pathogenesis for improved risk stratification and treatment
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11383129 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-researcher team at Dana-Farber is studying how DNA damage repair weaknesses help drive Ewing sarcoma in kids and teens, with the goal of better predicting risk and guiding therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $208,731 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA276701-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11383129 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma who have available sequencing data or tumor samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to sequencing data or tumor samples may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This NIH K08 grant uses patient data and lab models to explore how inherited DNA repair gene variants and tumor genome features contribute to Ewing sarcoma. Researchers will analyze sequencing data from patients and test ideas in cell line models to understand how these defects shape cancer development and response to treatment. The work aims to translate these findings into improved risk stratification and more informed treatment choices for young patients. The project combines computational analysis with experiments to connect germline variants, tumor genomics, and disease behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better risk stratification and more tailored therapies for children and adolescents with Ewing sarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked DDR gene variants to pediatric cancers, and this work builds on that foundation in Ewing sarcoma.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gillani, Riaz — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Gillani, Riaz
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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.