Finding new ways to enhance cancer treatment by targeting specific enzymes.
Official title: Discovery of Potent Selective Inhibitors of the Histone Methyltransferase SUV39H1 for the Treatment of Cancer
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-10982435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how blocking a certain enzyme in cancer cells can help make them look more like viruses, which might help your immune system recognize and fight the cancer better, potentially leading to new treatment options for patients who haven't responded well to current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $809,234 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA286431-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10982435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that have shown resistance to current immunotherapy treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose cancers are already effectively treated by existing therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how inhibiting a specific enzyme, SUV39H1, can help reactivate certain viral elements in cancer cells, making them more recognizable to the immune system. By promoting this 'viral mimicry,' the goal is to stimulate an immune response that can effectively target and kill cancer cells. The approach aims to convert tumors that are typically resistant to current immunotherapy treatments into ones that can respond better to these therapies. Patients may benefit from new treatment options that enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar approaches to enhance immune responses in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this novel strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spruck, Charles H. — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Spruck, Charles H.
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.