How small cell lung cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy

Replication Stress Sensing and Signaling Defects in SCLC

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11171382

The team is looking at how changes in a gene called SLFN11 affect whether small cell lung cancer responds to chemotherapy.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11171382 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will study tumor cells and laboratory models of small cell lung cancer to see how SLFN11 controls the cell’s response to DNA damage from chemotherapy. They will create and test mutant versions of SLFN11 in cell lines to separate long-term effects from immediate actions at stalled DNA replication forks. complementary experiments will use animal and molecular models to map the pathways that let tumors survive replication stress. The goal is to find molecular steps that could be reversed or targeted to restore chemo sensitivity.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with small cell lung cancer—especially those whose tumors have stopped responding to chemotherapy or who can provide tumor samples—would be the most relevant candidates.

Not a fit: People without small cell lung cancer or those seeking an immediate new treatment option are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic and translational research right away.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests that predict who will benefit from chemotherapy and new approaches to overcome resistance.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that SLFN11 levels correlate with chemotherapy sensitivity across cancers, but using that knowledge to reverse resistance is still a newer, actively studied approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
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Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.