Improving radiation for lung cancers with KEAP1 or NFE2L2 mutations
Project 3: Targeting KEAP1-Mediated Radioresistance in Lung Cancer
This project explores whether blocking a cancer fuel enzyme called glutaminase can help radiation therapy work better for people with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have KEAP1 or NFE2L2 mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178482 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is exploring whether a drug that blocks glutaminase can make radiation kill tumors more effectively in non-small cell lung cancers that carry KEAP1 or NFE2L2 mutations. They will compare mutant tumors to tumors without these mutations using laboratory models and animal studies to see if the benefit is specific to the mutant cancers. This work builds on findings that KEAP1/NFE2L2 changes make tumors resistant to radiation and aims to create a personalized radiosensitization approach tied to tumor genetics. If the findings are promising, the approach could be moved toward clinical testing and more tailored radiation plans for affected patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors test positive for KEAP1 or NFE2L2 mutations and who are receiving or scheduled for radiation therapy.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have KEAP1 or NFE2L2 mutations (wildtype) are less likely to benefit from this glutaminase-targeted radiosensitization approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make radiation therapy more effective and reduce local recurrences for patients with KEAP1/NFE2L2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies of glutaminase inhibitors as radiosensitizers have had conflicting results, so applying this approach specifically to KEAP1/NFE2L2-mutant tumors is a newer, more targeted strategy.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diehn, Maximilian — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Diehn, Maximilian
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.