Identifying a specific protein linked to Ewing sarcoma in children and young adults
Official title: Discovery and characterization of exceptionally specific surface oncoprotein LIPI in Ewing Sarcoma
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10883632 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein called LIPI to see how it affects Ewing sarcoma, a cancer that mostly impacts kids and young adults, with the hope of finding new ways to use the immune system to treat this tough disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $216,512 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA274009-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883632 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, particularly those with metastatic disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Ewing sarcoma who are not eligible for immunotherapy or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. The team is investigating a specific protein called LIPI, which is believed to play a crucial role in the cancer's development and progression. By analyzing gene expression data from cancerous and normal tissues, the researchers aim to understand how LIPI functions and its potential as a target for new immunotherapies. This could lead to innovative treatments that harness the immune system to fight this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapies for children and young adults with Ewing sarcoma, improving their chances of recovery.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on LIPI is novel, similar immunotherapy approaches have shown promise in treating other cancers, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Asangani, Irfan Ahmed — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Asangani, Irfan Ahmed
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered prognostic model for Ewing sarcoma using digital pathology
Researchers are building an AI tool to predict survival for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma using digitized pathology slides.
-
RAPID: A patient-centered, fast-tracked drug trial platform for young people with relapsed Ewing sarcoma and DSRCT
A patient-friendly, open-label phase 2 platform trial tests promising drug combinations for teens and young adults whose Ewing sarcoma or DSRCT has come back or not responded to treatment.
-
TGFβ brakes immune evasion and metastasis in Ewing sarcoma during radiation
A physician-scientist will study whether blocking TGFβ during radiation can help CAR T cells fight Ewing sarcoma and improve patient outcomes.
-
Function and Targeting of ETV6 in Ewing Sarcoma
A scientist at Case Western Reserve University is studying a specific protein, ETV6, that helps a rare bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma, with the goal of finding targeted therapies that could spare healthy cells.
-
Targeting immune markers in Ewing Sarcoma to guide safer, more effective therapies
A funded project at Stanford aims to use immune markers on Ewing Sarcoma to develop targeted immunotherapies that work in children and adults with this cancer.
-
Ewing sarcoma: how DNA repair weaknesses affect risk and treatment
A clinician-researcher team at Dana-Farber is studying how DNA damage repair weaknesses help drive Ewing sarcoma in kids and teens, with the goal of better predicting risk and guiding therapy.
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.