Improving radiation response in rectal cancer by targeting low-oxygen tumor areas
Tumor-Selective Radiosensitization by Targeting Hypoxia in Rectal Cancer
Using an approved drug that lowers tumor oxygen use alongside radiation to help shrink rectal tumors in people with locally advanced rectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11267984 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have locally advanced rectal cancer and are getting pre-surgery chemotherapy and radiation (total neoadjuvant therapy), this project looks at adding a drug that reduces tumor oxygen use to make radiation more effective. Tumor areas with low oxygen (hypoxia) can resist radiation, and the team will give the FDA-approved drug papaverine during radiation to block tumor mitochondrial oxygen consumption and try to sensitize tumors. Researchers will follow response with imaging, endoscopy, and tissue samples and will study tumor biology to see who benefits and why. The aim is to increase complete responses so more people might avoid major surgery and its long-term consequences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma who are scheduled for total neoadjuvant therapy (preoperative chemotherapy and radiation) are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage disease, widespread metastatic cancer, or those unable to tolerate the study drug or radiation are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more patients could have their tumors fully controlled before surgery and avoid major rectal surgery and its lasting side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical data support that blocking mitochondrial oxygen use (for example with papaverine) can sensitize tumors to radiation, but translating this approach to rectal cancer patients is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Terence Marques — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Williams, Terence Marques
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.