Investigating how potassium channels affect treatment of certain stomach tumors
Official title: Prognostic and Therapeutic Roles of Voltage Gated Potassium Channels in Managing KIT Mutant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11132427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a type of tumor called gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that are caused by changes in a gene, and it’s testing whether combining a cancer drug with another medication can help make the treatment more effective for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 4, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $662,682 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA292590-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumors that have KIT mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with GIST that do not have KIT mutations or those who have already exhausted all treatment options may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that are driven by specific mutations in the KIT gene. It aims to understand the role of voltage-gated potassium channels in these tumors and how they can be targeted to improve treatment outcomes. The study will explore the effectiveness of combining an existing cancer drug, imatinib, with a medication called 4-AP, which blocks potassium channels, to potentially enhance tumor cell death. Patients may be involved in trials assessing the safety and efficacy of this combination therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with KIT mutant GIST, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar approaches in targeting cancer cells, suggesting potential for success in this novel combination therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sicklick, Jason Keith — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Sicklick, Jason Keith
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Prognostic and therapeutic roles of voltage-gated potassium channels in KIT-mutant GIST
This grant explores how potassium channels might influence treatment response in KIT-mutant gastrointestinal stromal tumors and whether a combination therapy could improve outcomes for patients.
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DCC-2618 in GIST after at least 3 prior treatments
This trial tests whether DCC-2618 is safe in people with advanced GIST who have already tried at least three other treatments.
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Imatinib plus fampridine before surgery for KIT exon 11 gastrointestinal stromal tumor
This trial tests whether adding fampridine to standard imatinib before surgery is safe and helps shrink KIT exon 11 mutant GIST tumors in adults.
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Testing a new drug for advanced solid tumors that express c-Kit
This study is testing a new drug for people with advanced solid tumors that have a specific marker called c-Kit to see if it is safe and how well it works.
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Understanding genetic causes of neuroendocrine tumors in Mexican patients
This study is trying to find out the genetic changes that cause neuroendocrine tumors in Mexican patients to help develop better treatments.
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Combining radiotherapy with ripretinib for advanced GIST treatment
This study is testing if combining radiotherapy with ripretinib can help people with advanced GIST live longer and feel better.
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.