How alternative RNA splicing and gene fusions drive brain tumors
The role and mechanism of alternative RNA splice variants and gene fusions as drivers of cancer
Researchers are using lab mouse models to find how abnormal RNA splicing and gene fusions cause brain cancers and to spot existing drugs that might help people with these tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11211291 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses genetically engineered mouse models that closely mimic human gliomas and other brain tumors to study disease causes and drug response. One project looks at a specific TrkB RNA splice variant that appears to promote cancer when turned on in adult tissues. A second project focuses on tumors driven by YAP1 gene fusions, including ependymoma, aggressive meningioma, and porocarcinoma. A third aim is to test therapeutic responses in these models and search for FDA-approved drugs that could be repurposed to treat these fusion-driven tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with gliomas or rare fusion-driven brain tumors such as YAP1-fusion ependymoma, aggressive meningioma, or porocarcinoma — or patients willing to donate tumor samples for research — are most relevant.
Not a fit: People without brain tumors or whose cancers are driven by unrelated mechanisms are unlikely to directly benefit from this preclinical mouse-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new diagnostic markers and existing drugs that may help treat certain brain tumors driven by splice variants or gene fusions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse-model studies have guided clinical approaches to brain cancer, but specifically targeting TrkB splice variants and YAP1 fusions is a relatively new and exploratory direction.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holland, Eric C. — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Holland, Eric C.
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.