Finding which tumor enzymes (kinases) are active
Inferring Kinase Activity from Tumor Phosphoproteomic Data
This project develops a computer method that reads protein signals in tumor biopsies to find active enzymes that can help guide targeted treatment for people with breast and other solid cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180462 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, your tumor biopsy's pattern of phosphorylated proteins would be analyzed by an algorithm called KSTAR to infer which kinases are active in your cancer. The team is improving KSTAR so it works with different kinds of tumor samples and across many solid cancers. Collaborators will compare the algorithm's kinase activity results to standard clinical tests and treatment responses using real patient tumor samples. The aim is to help match kinase-targeted drugs more closely to each patient's tumor biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with breast or other solid tumors who have available tumor biopsy samples and are being considered for kinase-targeted therapies.
Not a fit: Patients without a tumor biopsy sample, those with cancers unlikely to be driven by kinases, or those needing immediate treatment decisions may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose kinase-targeted drugs more precisely, potentially avoiding ineffective treatments and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Related phosphoproteomic and computational approaches have shown promise in smaller studies but are still emerging and not yet standard clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naegle, Kristen M — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Naegle, Kristen M
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.