How cells choose to fix dangerous DNA breaks
Mechanisms of DNA Double-strand Break End Resection and Repair Pathway Choice
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · NIH-11247988
This project looks at how cells pick between two ways to repair severe DNA breaks to help improve treatment for cancers such as BRCA-related tumors that respond to PARP inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11247988 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will study the molecular switches that determine whether a broken DNA end is repaired quickly and error-prone or accurately using a matching DNA template. They will focus on proteins like 53BP1, BRCA1‑BARD1, EXO1 and the BLM‑DNA2 machinery to see how these factors promote or block DNA end resection. The team will use biochemical assays and cell models, including BRCA‑deficient cancer cells, to observe repair processes and mechanisms of resistance. Results are intended to guide future tests or drug strategies to prevent or overcome resistance to current therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with BRCA1/BRCA2-mutant or other homologous recombination–deficient tumors, or those whose cancers have developed PARP inhibitor resistance, are most directly relevant.
Not a fit: People with cancers not driven by DNA repair defects or those seeking immediate changes to their treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets or biomarkers to predict and overcome resistance to PARP inhibitors in BRCA‑deficient cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has clearly linked BRCA deficiency to PARP inhibitor sensitivity, but the detailed mechanisms controlling resection and resistance remain an active and partly novel area of study.
Where this research is happening
SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER — SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SUNG, PATRICK — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- Study coordinator: SUNG, PATRICK
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.
Conditions: Anti-Cancer Agents