How changes in the SRCAP gene can lead to treatment-related blood disorders
The role of SRCAP in therapy related clonal hematopoiesis
Researchers are looking at whether changes in a gene called SRCAP help blood stem cells survive chemotherapy or radiation and grow into pre-cancerous clones in adults treated for cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251631 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on people who received chemotherapy or radiation and later develop expanded blood cell clones that can lead to therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. Scientists will analyze blood samples from affected patients and use laboratory models to see how loss of SRCAP changes placement of the histone H2AZ, disrupts DNA repair, and makes stem cells resistant to cytotoxic therapy. The team will track how SRCAP-mutant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells expand after treatment and test molecular mechanisms that drive that clonal growth. The goal is to find markers to identify high-risk patients and potential molecular targets to prevent progression to frank blood cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who previously received chemotherapy or radiation for cancer and who can provide blood samples and medical history would be the most likely candidates to participate.
Not a fit: People without a history of cytotoxic therapy, children, or patients whose blood disorders are unrelated to clonal hematopoiesis are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify patients at high risk for therapy-related myeloid neoplasms and suggest ways to prevent those cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Studies of clonal hematopoiesis and DNA repair–related mutations have linked such changes to therapy-related blood cancers, but the specific role of SRCAP is a newer and less-tested target.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sperling, Adam — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sperling, Adam
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.