Investigating ways to reduce a cancer gene's impact in childhood muscle cancer.

Clinical & Mechanistic underpinnings to reducing PAX:FOXO1 for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

NIH-funded research Children's Cancer Therapy Develop/inst · NIH-11136866

This study is looking at a tough childhood muscle cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and how a specific gene makes it harder to treat with chemotherapy; the researchers want to see if a drug called entinostat can help make chemotherapy work better by blocking that gene, which could lead to better outcomes for kids with this cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Cancer Therapy Develop/inst NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Beaverton, United States)
Project IDNIH-11136866 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), a challenging childhood muscle cancer that often becomes resistant to chemotherapy due to the PAX3:FOXO1 oncogene. The team aims to understand how this gene contributes to treatment resistance and explore methods to counteract its effects, particularly through the use of a drug called entinostat. By silencing PAX3:FOXO1, they hope to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence. The research involves detailed molecular studies to identify key regulatory pathways that could be targeted for improved treatment outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, particularly those whose cancer has shown resistance to standard chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of cancer or those whose alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is not driven by the PAX3:FOXO1 oncogene may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates for children with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma by making their tumors more responsive to chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar oncogenes and enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

Beaverton, 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 Breast Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.