How cells fix DNA damage and control cancer-linked genes
Interplay between DNA base excision repair and transcriptional regulation
This project looks at how cells repair oxidative DNA damage near cancer-linked genes to help guide new treatments for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192840 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know that some regions of DNA near cancer-related genes form special shapes called G-quadruplexes that are prone to oxidative damage. The team will study how base excision repair proteins, especially APE1, interact with these damaged sites and change gene activity. They will use structural biology, single-molecule fluorescence, and cell-based lab tests to watch these molecular events happen. The goal is to find the key interactions that could be targeted by future therapies to control harmful gene activity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers linked to DNA repair problems or genes regulated by G-quadruplex structures would be the most likely future beneficiaries, although this grant does not appear to be a patient enrollment trial.
Not a fit: Patients without cancer or whose tumors do not involve these DNA repair pathways are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets for drugs that change activity of cancer-related genes.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory studies show that manipulating DNA repair can affect cancer cells, but translating these findings into clinical treatments remains largely unproven and this specific coupling of G4 structures and BER is still being worked out.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whitaker, Amy Michelle — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Whitaker, Amy Michelle
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.