Investigating a new target to improve chemotherapy effectiveness in bladder cancer

NPEPPS is a novel and druggable determinant of chemotherapy resistance in bladder cancer

NIH-funded research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11114489

This study is looking at ways to make chemotherapy work better for people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer by targeting a specific protein that affects how cancer cells react to treatment, which could help improve results and shrink tumors.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, United States)
Project IDNIH-11114489 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). By utilizing advanced CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the study aims to identify and target a specific protein, NPEPPS, which influences how cancer cells respond to treatment. The researchers will explore how manipulating NPEPPS can improve treatment outcomes and reduce tumor growth in laboratory models. This approach could lead to new strategies for overcoming chemotherapy resistance in bladder cancer patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are scheduled to receive cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer or those who are not receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates for bladder cancer patients who currently do not respond well to chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results using CRISPR technology to identify and target cancer resistance mechanisms, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anti-Cancer Agents
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.