Heat shock factors and how they help leukemia cells survive
Official title: Role of heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) in hematological malignancies
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11251979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring whether blocking a protein called HSF1 can make adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) respond better to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $462,585 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276933-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) with acute myeloid leukemia, especially those with relapsed or treatment-resistant disease, are the most relevant group for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without AML or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this preclinical research right away.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is studying proteins called heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) that help AML cells survive stress from chemotherapy and the immune system. They use laboratory models including patient-derived leukemia cells and animal experiments to see how HSF1 controls cancer cell metabolism and protein balance. The researchers also test drugs or molecular approaches that lower HSF1 activity to see if leukemia cells become more vulnerable. The goal is to discover new treatment strategies that could be combined with existing therapies to overcome drug resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to make resistant or relapsed AML more treatable by targeting HSF1-related pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have previously linked HSF1 to cancer cell survival and some preclinical work suggests targeting HSF1 can slow tumor growth, but clinical success in AML has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mivechi, Nahid F — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Mivechi, Nahid F
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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.