How the protein ZEB1 helps tumors resist treatment
The Role of ZEB1 in promoting therapeutic resistance through its interaction with 53BP1
This project looks at whether ZEB1 helps tumors—especially those with BRCA1/2 defects—survive DNA-damaging treatments like radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257362 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers study how the protein ZEB1 and its partner 53BP1 control DNA repair in cancer cells and influence resistance to radiation and some chemotherapies. They use lab-grown cancer cells and molecular tools such as gene editing to remove or reduce ZEB1 and then measure how cells mend DNA breaks and how sensitive they are to radiation. The team also examines chromosomal changes and shifts between different DNA-repair pathways that can make tumors more or less likely to survive treatment. Findings could point to ways to make resistant tumors respond better to existing therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers that have BRCA1/2 mutations or tumors that have become resistant to radiation or DNA-damaging chemotherapy would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not rely on ZEB1/53BP1-driven DNA repair mechanisms or who are not receiving DNA-damaging treatments are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to make BRCA-mutant or other DNA-repair–deficient tumors more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy.
How similar studies have performed: Other therapies that target DNA repair, like PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutant cancers, have shown clinical success, but targeting the ZEB1–53BP1 interaction is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larner, James M — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Larner, James M
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.