How MUC1 makes cancers resist treatment
MUC1 in Therapy Resistance
This project targets a protein called MUC1 to try to reduce treatment resistance in people with pancreatic and other aggressive cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181560 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear that the team is focusing on a protein called MUC1 that is often high in pancreatic and other aggressive cancers and helps tumors resist treatments. They will study tumor samples and lab models to see how MUC1 alters cancer cell signaling, metabolism, and response to chemotherapy and targeted drugs, and will test ways to lower MUC1 or block its effects. Their work builds on gene expression analyses and experiments showing that reducing MUC1 can make cancer cells more sensitive to many therapies. If lab results are promising, the findings could guide new treatments or clinical trials aimed at overcoming resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with pancreatic or other cancers whose tumors show high MUC1 levels or whose disease has become resistant to standard treatments.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express MUC1 or whose cancer is driven by different resistance mechanisms are less likely to benefit from MUC1-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, targeting MUC1 could make existing chemotherapies and targeted drugs work better for people with MUC1-high cancers, including some pancreatic cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and preclinical studies have shown that lowering MUC1 can reverse drug resistance in cell and animal models, but clinical testing of MUC1-targeted therapies remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hollingsworth, Michael a. — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hollingsworth, Michael 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.