How different EGFR signals control glioblastoma growth and spread
Bimodal EGFR signaling in glioblastoma
This project studies how two types of EGFR signaling affect tumor growth and invasion in adults with glioblastoma and whether the approved drug tofacitinib can activate the pathway that suppresses invasion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257308 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is trying to understand why EGFR can sometimes drive tumor aggression and other times slow tumor spread. They compare constant (constitutive) EGFR activity with ligand-triggered EGFR using human tumor data, lab-grown glioma cells, and animal models. Investigators have identified a protein called BIN3 that appears to block tumor invasion and are testing how EGFR ligands and tofacitinib change BIN3 levels and tumor behavior. The researchers will also look at how changes in proliferation versus invasion affect tumor size and outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with glioblastoma, particularly tumors with EGFR amplification, could be candidates to donate tissue or join future clinical trials stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with pediatric brain tumors, gliomas that do not involve EGFR, or those unable to travel to study sites are less likely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways—including repurposing tofacitinib—to reduce glioblastoma invasion and improve treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Prior clinical efforts to target EGFR in glioblastoma have had mixed results, and the idea of activating ligand-dependent EGFR to suppress invasion is relatively new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Habib, Amyn — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Habib, Amyn
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.