Killing chemotherapy‑resistant glioblastoma by targeting iron‑related cell death
Ferroptosis in drug resistant glioma
Researchers aim to force chemotherapy‑resistant glioblastoma cells to die through an iron‑related process called ferroptosis, which could open new treatment options for patients whose tumors no longer respond to temozolomide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231986 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers compare glioblastoma cells that respond to temozolomide with those that have become resistant to find differences in metabolism and iron handling. They found resistant cells depend more on importing cystine and carry higher levels of intracellular iron, which makes them vulnerable to ferroptosis triggered by selenium‑containing compounds like ebselen. In the lab they will characterize this ferroptosis behavior in cell and animal models to understand how to trigger it effectively and safely. The goal is to identify drug strategies that could be advanced into clinical trials for patients with recurrent, temozolomide‑resistant glioblastoma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma—especially those whose tumors no longer respond to temozolomide or who have recurrent disease—would be the likely candidates for future trials stemming from this research.
Not a fit: People with other types of brain tumors or whose tumors lack the specific iron and cystine metabolic features needed to trigger ferroptosis may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that kill temozolomide‑resistant glioblastoma cells and potentially extend patient survival.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies in other cancers and glioma models show ferroptosis can kill therapy‑resistant cells, but translating this into safe, effective human treatments is still largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tiek, Deanna Marie — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Tiek, Deanna Marie
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 below.