Inhibiting AXL to Improve Treatment Response in Endometrial Cancer
Official title: Project 2: Inhibiting AXL to Improve Treatment Response in Endometrial Cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11421863 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer treatment study is testing whether blocking AXL with batiraxcept together with standard chemotherapy can help people with certain aggressive uterine cancers respond better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 23, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $212,525 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA265793-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421863 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with recurrent, aggressive endometrial cancer histologies (uterine serous carcinoma or high-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer) who are eligible for paclitaxel-based treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving paclitaxel-based therapy or those with tumors unlikely to respond to AXL inhibition may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on women with aggressive uterine cancers, specifically uterine serous carcinoma and high‑grade endometrioid cancer. Researchers will test the safety of adding batiraxcept to paclitaxel and look for signs it helps the tumors shrink or respond to treatment. They will also explore tissue and blood markers to understand who might benefit the most and why. The study builds on lab data showing AXL influences tumor growth and blood vessel formation, and how blocking AXL could enhance existing therapies. Three aims guide the work: safety of the combo, biomarker discovery, and understanding the mechanisms of batiraxcept in this setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience improved responses to standard therapy and better outcomes in aggressive endometrial cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data and early studies suggest AXL inhibitors can improve chemotherapy response in similar cancer types, supporting this translational approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mutch, David G — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mutch, David G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Prognostic tools to guide adjuvant therapy for Black women after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer
A new project aims to create and validate easy-to-use tools that help doctors tailor post-surgery treatment for Black women with endometrial cancer.
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Understanding why guideline-concordant endometrial cancer treatment varies in high-risk groups
This project looks at why some patients with endometrial cancer don’t receive care that follows national guidelines, aiming to find ways to ensure more patients get the best-supported treatments.
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Targeting hormone resistance to prevent endometrial cancer
Aims to boost progesterone’s cancer-preventing effect in the lining of the uterus to stop cancer from developing in people at risk, especially those who are obese or young.
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Targeting HSPA Proteins to Help Women with Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer
Aims to test a drug called SHetA2 that may slow or stop growth of advanced endometrial cancer by targeting cancer-friendlier proteins, with a focus on reducing treatment toxicity.
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Endometrial Cancer SPORE: New strategies to prevent and treat endometrial cancer
A multi-institution program is testing new ways to prevent and treat endometrial cancer in people, with three linked projects and multiple cores to support translational research.
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Obesity-related metabolic changes and disparities in endometrial cancer
This project looks at why endometrial cancer is worse for Black women and whether obesity-related metabolic changes drive the disease, with aims to find ways to prevent or slow progression.
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.