How loss of SETD2 drives lung adenocarcinoma growth
Official title: Identifying the Impact of SETD2 Inactivation in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11240268 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether cutting dietary methionine or using drugs that change methionine-related metabolism can slow lung cancers that have lost the SETD2 gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | December 10, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,693 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262619-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11240268 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with lung adenocarcinoma whose tumors have SETD2 loss-of-function mutations, especially those with KRAS-driven disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without SETD2-deficient tumors or those with other lung cancer types (for example, squamous cell carcinoma) are less likely to benefit from these specific approaches.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team studies lung tumors that lack the gene SETD2 using lab-grown tumor cells and mouse models. They found that losing SETD2 raises levels of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) and turns on mTORC1, which helps tumors grow. The researchers showed that lowering dietary methionine slowed KRAS-driven lung tumors in mice and now plan to test drugs that target the methionine/one-carbon cycle. The goal is to find drug or dietary approaches that selectively hurt SETD2-deficient tumors and could move toward patient testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new metabolic or dietary-based treatments for patients whose lung tumors have SETD2 loss.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse work by the team showed methionine restriction can slow KRAS-driven tumors, but targeting SAM/one-carbon metabolism in SETD2-deficient human tumors is a relatively new and translational step.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feldser, David — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Feldser, David
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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.