How extra DNA copies form and grow in cells
Deciphering Networks Controlling DNA Amplification
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR · NIH-11226581
Researchers are looking at the cell processes that produce extra DNA copies that can drive cancers, heart problems, and some brain disorders to find ways to block them.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11226581 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project examines why certain DNA regions gain extra copies, including as extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), and how that changes gene activity in cancer and other diseases. The team will study chromatin enzymes (KDMs and KMTs) — including the known driver KDM4A — to map the molecular networks that allow DNA to rereplicate. Experiments will use human cell lines and disease-derived samples to track when and where copy gains occur and which enzymes control them. The ultimate aim is to learn how to prevent or control harmful DNA copy-number changes that influence disease behavior and treatment response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers driven by extrachromosomal DNA or patients with heart or neurological conditions linked to DNA amplification would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are caused by unrelated mechanisms without DNA copy-number changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent tumors or diseased tissues from gaining harmful extra gene copies, improving how well treatments work.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier lab studies, including by this group, have identified enzymes like KDM4A that drive site-specific DNA amplification, but turning those findings into patient treatments is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WHETSTINE, JOHNATHAN R. — RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR
- Study coordinator: WHETSTINE, JOHNATHAN R.
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: Cancer Genes, Cancer-Promoting Gene, Cancers, Cardiac Diseases, Cardiac Disorders