How small cell lung cancer fixes DNA damage during treatment

Repair Mechanisms of Replication fork Lesions in SCLC

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11171396

Researchers are looking at how small cell lung cancer cells get and repair DNA damage during therapy to understand why some tumors respond and others become resistant.

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-11171396 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project looks at the specific kinds of DNA damage that happen when small cell lung cancer cells copy their DNA and how those lesions are fixed. Scientists will compare tumors and cell models that are treatment-naïve with ones that have become therapy-resistant to see what changes. The work uses cellular experiments and sensitive single-molecule assays to map damage types and repair steps, and will test how new targeted drugs affect those processes. Findings could point to weak spots in resistant tumors that new treatments might exploit.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer, especially those willing to provide tumor samples or consider future trials based on these findings, would be the most relevant candidates.

Not a fit: Patients without small cell lung cancer or those seeking an immediate change to their current clinical care are unlikely to see direct short-term benefits from this basic/translational research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal repair weaknesses in small cell lung cancer that lead to better-targeted therapies and improved responses for patients.

How similar studies have performed: Targeting DNA repair has helped in other cancers, but applying detailed replication-fork and single-molecule approaches specifically to small cell lung cancer is relatively new.

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.