How p53 and Notch genes drive childhood bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
Official title: Probing the mechanisms of dependency underlying skeletal genetic pathways of p53 and Notch in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma
Funded at Sanford Research/usd · NIH-11309653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changes in the p53 and Notch genes in bone-forming cells contribute to osteosarcoma in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Research/usd NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $489,845 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA300681-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with osteosarcoma or people who can provide tumor samples (including those with hereditary cancer syndromes like Li-Fraumeni) would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-bone cancers or benign bone conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
The team uses genetically engineered mouse models that closely mimic human childhood osteosarcoma and studies human tumor cells to trace how p53- and Notch-related pathways affect tumor behavior. They will turn genes on or off in these models to find which genes tumors need to grow, survive, or spread. Promising findings will be checked in both mouse and human samples to confirm relevance to people. The aim is to reveal tumor vulnerabilities that could become targets for new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for therapies that slow or stop tumor growth and metastasis in children with osteosarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown p53 and Rb mutations are central to osteosarcoma and mouse models can mirror human disease, but targeting p53- and Notch-dependent pathways for therapy remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Research/usd
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tao, Jianning — Sanford Research/usd
- Study coordinator: Tao, Jianning
Related research
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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.