Inhibiting IDH1 to Trigger Ferroptosis in Aggressive Brain Cancer
Official title: Inhibition of wild-type IDH1 as a ferroptosis-inducing therapeutic approach for the treatment of malignant glioma.
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11355379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at slowing hard-to-treat brain tumors by blocking a cancer-fueling enzyme (IDH1) in tumors that don’t have a common mutation, potentially making tumors easier to kill with radiation or immune therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $488,030 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129123-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with high-grade gliomas that overexpress wild-type IDH1 and lack the IDH1 R132H mutation may be most relevant for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on wt-IDH1 or who cannot tolerate combination therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether turning off the wild-type IDH1 enzyme in high-grade gliomas can promote ferroptosis, a form of cancer cell death. Researchers will use patient-derived tumor models, test genetic and drug-based IDH1 inhibition, and examine how combining these approaches with radiation or immune therapies affects tumor growth. The work builds on prior findings that IDH1-wt helps tumors survive by managing lipids and antioxidants, potentially making them vulnerable to new treatments. By understanding how wt-IDH1 supports tumor resistance, the study seeks to identify strategies that enhance cancer cell death while sparing normal brain tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to new treatments that make certain brain cancers more responsive to existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in cell and animal models suggest targeting wt-IDH1 can slow tumor growth, supporting potential translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stegh, Alexander H. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Stegh, Alexander H.
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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.