Houston Center for Cisplatin Resistance in Head and Neck Cancer

The Houston Center for Acquired Resistance Research (H-CARR)

NIH-funded research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11182512

This center works to find why head and neck cancers stop responding to cisplatin, to spot that change early, and to find ways to make treatments work again for people with head and neck cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11182512 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This center brings scientists and clinicians together to study why head and neck squamous cell carcinomas become resistant to cisplatin. They will map genetic and metabolic changes in tumors, use non-invasive imaging to watch tumor metabolism, and test blood-based markers like circulating tumor cells to detect resistance. Projects combine lab experiments, analysis of patient samples, and advanced imaging to identify targets and strategies to overcome resistance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are receiving or have received cisplatin, especially if their cancer is not responding or has recurred, would be the most relevant participants.

Not a fit: People without head and neck cancer or those never treated with cisplatin are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could produce tests to detect cisplatin resistance earlier and new approaches to restore treatment sensitivity.

How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and clinical studies have identified some resistance mechanisms and blood markers, but combining metabolomics, imaging, and circulating tumor cell detection in this integrated way is relatively new and not yet proven to reverse resistance.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancer CauseCancer Etiology
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.