Exploring how melanoma cells resist treatment with specific inhibitors
Understanding and Overcoming Resistance to BRAF/MEK Kinase Inhibitors in Melanoma
This study is looking into why some people with BRAFV600E/K melanoma start to get better with targeted treatments but then stop responding, and it aims to find new ways to help keep the cancer from coming back by closely examining the stubborn cancer cells during treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10977309 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates why many patients with BRAFV600E/K melanoma initially respond to targeted therapies but eventually relapse. The team will study the behavior of resistant melanoma cell populations during treatment, using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA analysis and barcoding to track changes in these cells. By understanding the dynamics of these resistant cells, the researchers aim to identify new therapeutic strategies that could prevent or overcome resistance to treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with BRAFV600E/K melanoma who are currently undergoing or have undergone treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors.
Not a fit: Patients with melanoma that does not carry the BRAFV600E/K mutation may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for melanoma patients by overcoming drug resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding drug resistance in cancer therapies, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raj, Arjun — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Raj, Arjun
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.