How acetylcarnitine helps ovarian cancer resist chemotherapy
Acylcarnitine Metabolism in Ovarian Cancer Chemoresistance
This project looks at whether lowering acetylcarnitine in high-grade serous ovarian cancer can make tumors more sensitive to standard DNA-damaging chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379433 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are examining how a small molecule called acetylcarnitine changes histone chemistry and helps high-grade serous ovarian tumors repair chemotherapy-caused DNA damage. They will map the acetylcarnitine-dependent histone acetylation pathway and connect those changes to homologous recombination DNA repair in tumor models. The team will test interventions that reduce intracellular acetylcarnitine to see if those changes make tumors more responsive to standard DNA-damaging agents. Results are intended to guide metabolic strategies to overcome chemoresistance and inform future patient trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, especially those with tumors that are resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy or show intact homologous recombination repair, would be most relevant for future trials stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with other ovarian cancer subtypes or whose tumors do not rely on acetylcarnitine-driven DNA repair mechanisms may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that make chemo-resistant ovarian tumors respond better to standard treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting tumor metabolism to overcome chemoresistance has shown promise in preclinical studies, but targeting acetylcarnitine specifically is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aird, Katherine Marie — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Aird, Katherine Marie
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.