Harnessing copper to tackle chemoresistant ovarian cancer
Official title: Harnessing Cuproptosis Against Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11441711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses copper-triggered cell death to target high-grade serous ovarian cancer that stops responding to standard chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,569 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA317274-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have relapsed after platinum therapy may benefit from future trials based on cuproptosis-based strategies.
✕Less likely to help
The study is preclinical and may not yet apply to all patients; results in animals may not translate directly to humans.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on a form of cell death called cuproptosis, which is activated by copper in cancer cells, to kill ovarian tumors that resist platinum therapy. The researchers will test whether copper delivery and a new drug analog can trigger cuproptosis in patient-derived tumor models, especially when cells are grown with ascites-like conditions. Animal studies are needed to understand how the drugs behave in living systems, how copper reaches tumors, and how this approach interacts with platinum resistance. The work aims to move beyond dish experiments to in vivo evidence that could guide future trials in people with this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that overcome platinum resistance in ovarian cancer by inducing cuproptosis.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models suggest that cuproptosis can be leveraged to kill cancer cells, with more work needed to confirm effectiveness in ovarian cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsvetkov, Peter — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Tsvetkov, Peter
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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.