High-dose acetaminophen with delayed acetylcysteine to target cancer stem cells
Official title: High dose acetaminophen with n-acetylcysteine rescue as a novel STAT3 inhibitor with anti-cancer stem cell properties
Funded at VA Veterans Administration Hospital · NIH-11212787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work sees if very high-dose acetaminophen followed by delayed acetylcysteine can shrink tumors and target cancer stem cells in people with non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Veterans Administration Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX004914-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11212787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with non-small cell lung cancer or other advanced solid tumors similar to those treated in earlier high-dose acetaminophen cases would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with active liver disease, a known allergy to acetaminophen or acetylcysteine, or other clear contraindications to high-dose acetaminophen may not be able to benefit or participate.
What this research studies
You may have heard of acetaminophen as a pain medicine; this project uses much higher doses followed by a protective antidote (acetylcysteine) to try to kill cancer cells. Early small clinical experiences showed tumor shrinkage in some patients, and researchers now think the drug may block a cancer-growth protein called STAT3 and hit cancer stem cells. The team will use lab experiments, molecular tests, and preclinical models to confirm how acetaminophen interacts with STAT3 and whether that interaction reduces tumor-forming cells. Findings could guide future patient treatments or clinical trials if the approach proves safe and effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new way to shrink tumors by targeting cancer stem cells and the STAT3 pathway.
How similar studies have gone: Small early-phase clinical experiences reported tumor shrinkage in some patients (8/14) and objective responses in a few (3/14), but using acetaminophen as a STAT3-targeting cancer therapy is a new and still unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Veterans Administration Hospital
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neuwelt, Alexander — VA Veterans Administration Hospital
- Study coordinator: Neuwelt, Alexander
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.