Improving treatment for uterine cancer by targeting DNA damage responses
Official title: Targeting Replication Stress and DNA Damage Response in Uterine Cancer
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11070302 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to treat women with advanced or returning uterine cancer by focusing on a problem that makes cancer cells unstable, and it aims to create new therapies using cutting-edge techniques.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,659,711 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA269021-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070302 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with advanced or relapsed endometrial cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage uterine cancer or those not diagnosed with endometrial cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the increasing rates of uterine cancer, particularly endometrial cancer, which affects women in the United States. The project aims to improve treatment outcomes for women with advanced or relapsed uterine cancer by targeting replication stress, a condition that leads to genomic instability in cancer cells. The research team, composed of experts from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, will explore three different strategies to effectively manage this stress and develop new therapies. By utilizing advanced techniques in DNA repair and immunotherapy, the goal is to translate these findings into practical treatments for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective therapies for women suffering from advanced uterine cancer, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting replication stress in other cancer types, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach for uterine cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Matulonis, Ursula Anne — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Matulonis, Ursula Anne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Modeling to Prevent and Control Uterine Cancer
A national modeling effort uses computer simulations to inform better prevention, screening, and treatment of uterine cancer for women.
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Comparative modeling to guide uterine cancer care
This grant uses computer models to help doctors and patients understand how to make better decisions about uterine cancer care.
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Using DNA damage drugs to help the immune system fight uterine cancer
This project combines drugs that increase tumor DNA damage with immunotherapy to help people with recurrent microsatellite-stable uterine cancer who haven't responded to current treatments.
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Dual ATR and PI3K-targeted therapy for uterine cancer
This project will try combining two drugs that block ATR and PI3K to better stop uterine cancers, especially tumors with ARID1A changes or other DNA replication stress.
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WEE1-targeted treatment for uterine serous and p53-mutant uterine cancer
Testing a drug that blocks the WEE1 protein to try to shrink uterine serous cancers and other uterine cancers with p53 mutations.
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Treating uterine (endometrial) cancer by targeting DNA damage and replication stress
This project develops new treatment approaches that exploit DNA repair weaknesses to help women with advanced or recurrent uterine (endometrial) cancer who need additional options.
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.