How small cell lung cancer cells switch between different states

Cellular plasticity gives rise to phenotypic equilibrium in small cell lung carcinoma

['FUNDING_U01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11162301

This research looks at how cells inside small cell lung cancer change into different types and how those changes affect treatment for people with SCLC.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11162301 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This project uses a large collection of patient-derived tumor models and lab-grown tumor cultures that keep the original tumor's behavior. Researchers will follow individual cancer cells to see how they shift between distinct phenotypic states and measure how quickly those changes happen. They will test standard chemotherapy on these different cell states to see which are killed and which survive. The team aims to explain why some cell populations persist after treatment and drive relapse.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer who can provide tumor tissue or whose tumor samples are available for research.

Not a fit: People without small cell lung cancer or those unable to provide tumor samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target the cancer cell types that survive chemotherapy and help reduce relapse in small cell lung cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Related studies using patient-derived models and single-cell methods have shown tumor cell diversity, but tracking single-cell phenotypic dynamics and equilibria in SCLC is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

CHICAGO, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.