Improving treatments that target the normal IDH1 enzyme in pancreatic cancer
Optimizing anti-wild-type IDH1 therapy in pancreatic cancer
This project is trying to make drugs that block a normal enzyme called IDH1 work better for people with pancreatic cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303289 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Pancreatic tumors survive in a harsh, nutrient-poor environment by using the normal (wild-type) IDH1 enzyme, and researchers found that some approved drugs can block that enzyme under those conditions. The team will use lab-grown cells and tumor models to test drug combinations and safe dietary or medication changes that make tumors more dependent on antioxidant and mitochondrial defenses. They aim to find ways to use lower chemotherapy doses or different drug pairings that increase the impact of IDH1-targeting drugs like ivosidenib. The work focuses on practical, safety-minded approaches that could be moved toward patient testing if results are promising.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma—particularly those who might receive IDH1-targeting drugs or combination therapies—would be the eventual candidates for related clinical testing.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers other than pancreatic cancer or whose tumors do not rely on IDH1 activity are unlikely to benefit from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could produce safer, more effective IDH1-targeting treatment options or chemo-sparing combinations that improve outcomes for people with pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work, including the team's 2022 Nature Cancer paper, showed that drugs like ivosidenib can block normal IDH1 in tumor models, but clinical benefit in pancreatic cancer has not yet been proven.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winter, Jordan M — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Winter, Jordan M
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.