Investigating how certain cancers maintain their telomeres and potential treatment targets.
Official title: Targeting Shared Vulnerabilities in Alternate Telomere Lengthening (ALT) Cancers
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · NIH-11017846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at certain types of cancer that grow in a different way than usual and aims to find special markers that could help us discover new treatments for patients with these cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Scis Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $384,099 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA264949-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11017846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with ALT-positive cancers, which may include certain types of neuroblastoma and other malignancies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not exhibit ALT characteristics or those who do not have a diagnosis of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how specific cancers, particularly those that do not use the common telomerase method, maintain their telomeres through a process called Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT). By identifying unique biomarkers associated with ALT cancers, the study aims to uncover vulnerabilities in these cancer cells that could be targeted for treatment. The researchers will utilize a specialized assay to detect these biomarkers in various cancer types, which may lead to new therapeutic strategies for patients with ALT-positive tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with ALT-positive cancers, improving their clinical outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting vulnerabilities in ALT cancers, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reynolds, Charles Patrick — Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
- Study coordinator: Reynolds, Charles Patrick
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.