Helping high-risk medulloblastoma respond again to targeted therapy
Mechanisms of resistance to WEE1 inhibition in Myc driven medulloblastoma
This project explores whether blocking two tumor enzymes can make aggressive, MYC-driven medulloblastoma in children respond again to targeted drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231704 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know this work focuses on a high-risk form of childhood brain cancer called MYC-driven medulloblastoma that often stops responding to treatment. Researchers are studying why tumors become resistant to a drug that targets the WEE1 enzyme and suspect another enzyme, CDK7, allows that resistance. They will examine how CDK7 changes tumor gene control and metabolism in lab-grown tumor cells and animal models, and test whether combining WEE1 and CDK7 blockers — sometimes with drugs that target DNA repair — restores tumor sensitivity. The goal is to identify drug combinations that work better in living models and that could guide future clinical options for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The findings are most relevant to children with high-risk, MYC-driven medulloblastoma or tumors showing MYC activation on genetic testing.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of medulloblastoma that are not MYC-driven, other brain tumors, or unrelated cancers are unlikely to benefit directly from these specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to combination therapies that help children with MYC-driven medulloblastoma respond to treatment and potentially improve outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work showed WEE1 inhibitors can work in MYC-driven tumors and pair with some chemotherapies, but combining CDK7 and WEE1 to overcome resistance is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vibhakar, Rajeev — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Vibhakar, Rajeev
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.