How the APOBEC3A enzyme helps cancers change and where they may be vulnerable
Mechanisms of APOBEC3A-induced cancer evolution and cancer vulnerability
The team is seeing whether blocking the APOBEC3A enzyme can slow how cancers like lung, breast, and bladder change and become resistant to targeted cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310202 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab-grown lung cancer cells treated with targeted drugs to watch whether APOBEC3A activity rises when resistance appears. They will use CRISPR to remove APOBEC3A in these cell models and compare how quickly drug-resistant cells emerge. The team will map DNA, RNA, and protein changes and run computer analyses to find hotspots where APOBEC3A acts. Finally, they will search for ways to inhibit APOBEC3A activity that might slow cancer evolution.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers where APOBEC activity is suspected—such as lung, breast, or bladder cancer—or patients receiving targeted therapies who can donate tumor samples would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to APOBEC-driven mutations or those not treated with targeted therapies are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could slow or prevent treatment resistance so targeted therapies work longer for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked APOBEC enzymes to cancer mutational patterns and possible therapy resistance, but directly targeting APOBEC3A to prevent resistance is mostly at the preclinical, early-stage level.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrence, Michael S — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lawrence, Michael S
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.