Finding new treatments for Merkel cell carcinoma
Official title: Identifying novel therapies targeting Merkel cell carcinoma and tumor microenvironment
Funded at Southern California Inst for Res/educ · NIH-10880444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to treat Merkel cell carcinoma, a tough skin cancer, by testing a drug called fimepinostat to see if it can work better on its own or with other immune treatments, helping patients who have limited options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern California Inst for Res/educ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Beach, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 14, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $362,472 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA266514-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10880444 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include patients diagnosed with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, especially those who are ineligible for immune checkpoint inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage Merkel cell carcinoma or those who are already responding well to existing treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a serious skin cancer with limited treatment options and a low survival rate. The team aims to identify new therapies that can enhance the effectiveness of existing immune checkpoint inhibitors or provide alternatives for patients who cannot use these treatments. They will use laboratory-established MCC cell lines and conduct extensive drug screening to evaluate the efficacy of a specific drug, fimepinostat, both alone and in combination with immune therapies. The goal is to understand how this drug works against MCC and how it can improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in other cancers, suggesting that this approach may yield beneficial results for Merkel cell carcinoma as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Southern California Inst for Res/educ
Long Beach, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Ling — Southern California Inst for Res/educ
- Study coordinator: Gao, Ling
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunobiology and Immunotherapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
A team at the University of Washington is advancing how the immune system fights a rare skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma and testing new immune-based treatments to help patients who don’t respond to existing therapies.
-
New therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma and its immune environment
A cancer grant is testing a drug that may boost immune therapies and help patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who don’t respond to current treatments.
-
Understanding how Merkel cell skin cancer develops
This research explores how a specific virus causes Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.
-
New treatments for Merkel cell carcinoma
This research looks for new ways to treat Merkel cell carcinoma, a serious skin cancer, especially for patients who don't respond to current therapies.
-
Immune therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma
This project develops and tests new immune-based treatments to help people with Merkel cell carcinoma, especially those whose cancers no longer respond to PD‑1 drugs.
-
Investigating a new treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma
This study is looking at a type of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, especially in older Veterans, to see how a specific protein affects the cancer and to test a new treatment that could help those who can't use current therapies.
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.