How DNA repair enzymes shape response to BRCA-related breast cancer treatment
DNA Polymerases in Nonhomologous End Joining
This work looks at how cellular enzymes that fix DNA breaks influence response to radiation, especially for people with BRCA-related breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304494 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This lab-based research examines how cells repair chromosome breaks using a pathway called nonhomologous end joining, focusing on DNA polymerases that add short RNA primers during repair. The team will study how the complementary DNA strand is completed and how the initial RNA primer is removed, because retained RNA may cause genome instability. Experiments will use cell models relevant to BRCA1-deficient (hereditary) breast cancers to understand how these steps change response to radiation. Findings could point to new targets that make radiation or DNA-repair-targeted therapies work better for people with BRCA-related tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with BRCA1-associated or BRCA-deficient breast cancers would be the most relevant patient group for future trials or therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: Patients without cancers linked to DNA-repair defects or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to improve radiation therapy or develop drugs that exploit DNA-repair weaknesses in BRCA-related cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown RNA-primed DNA synthesis can redirect repair toward NHEJ, but translating these basic findings into patient treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramsden, Dale a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Ramsden, Dale a
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.