Forcing ferroptosis to treat aggressive STK11/KEAP1 mutant lung cancer
Targeting ferroptosis in aggressive subtypes of lung cancer
The team is searching for treatments that cause ferroptosis, a form of cancer cell death, in aggressive non-small cell lung cancers that carry STK11 and KEAP1 co-mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11391184 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, researchers are studying why certain lung tumors with STK11 and KEAP1 changes avoid a type of cell suicide called ferroptosis and keep growing. They will use CRISPR gene-editing screens, human cancer cell lines, and mouse tumor models to find genes and pathways that make these tumors vulnerable. The team plans to test drugs or drug combinations that trigger ferroptosis or block the tumor's protective mechanisms, and they will look at effects on tumor growth and the immune environment. The ultimate goal is to find approaches that could be moved into clinical testing to help patients with these resistant tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have both STK11 and KEAP1 loss-of-function mutations would be the most relevant candidates for therapies emerging from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without STK11/KEAP1 co-mutations or those with unrelated cancer types are unlikely to benefit directly from the specific strategies studied here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that make resistant STK11/KEAP1 co-mutant lung cancers more likely to die and respond to existing chemo- or immunotherapies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar laboratory studies targeting ferroptosis have shown promising preclinical effects, but clinical proof of benefit in patients is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sen, Triparna — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Sen, Triparna
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.