Improving treatment response in uveal melanoma by targeting Syk with new translational models
Official title: Improving Treatment Sensitivity through Syk using Novel Translational Models of Uveal Melanoma
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11358775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic team is exploring whether blocking the Syk protein can make uveal melanoma more responsive to PARP inhibitors in patients who have this eye cancer that often spreads.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 14, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $415,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA302685-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11358775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with uveal melanoma, especially those with tumors showing BAP1 loss and potential sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express Syk or do not rely on PARP inhibitor sensitivity may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on uveal melanoma, a cancer of the eye that can become deadly when it spreads. Researchers will use novel translational models to study how Syk upregulation affects treatment resistance and whether Syk inhibitors can boost the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors. The goal is to uncover a new approach that could improve outcomes for patients with this challenging disease. If successful, the work could guide future clinical strategies and personalized therapies for UM.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients with uveal melanoma may experience better responses to therapy and potentially longer survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest Syk may influence treatment response in some cancers, but this specific approach in UM is exploratory and requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dalvin, Lauren a — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Dalvin, Lauren a
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A new test using eye fluid to predict the risk of uveal melanoma spreading
This study is looking for a gentler way to check if uveal melanoma, a type of eye cancer, might spread by testing proteins in the eye's fluid instead of using painful needle biopsies, helping doctors make better treatment choices while keeping patients safe.
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.