Lowering blood serine to slow ER-positive breast cancer
Therapeutic enzyme depletion of L-serine for cancer treatment
This project is developing a lab-made enzyme that removes the nutrient L‑serine from the blood to try to slow ER-positive (luminal) breast cancers that need serine to grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295445 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers have created an engineered human enzyme (eSDH) that can cut blood serine levels by over 90% in mice without forcing extreme diets. The idea is to starve tumors that cannot make their own serine, especially many ER-positive breast cancers, so they stop growing. So far the work has been tested in animals to check safety and whether tumors shrink or slow. If results continue to look good, the team hopes to move toward testing this approach in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ER-positive (luminal) breast cancer whose tumors appear unable to synthesize serine and therefore rely on blood serine would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors can make their own serine or whose cancers are not driven by serine dependence are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow or stop growth of serine-dependent breast tumors and offer a new treatment that avoids extreme dietary changes.
How similar studies have performed: Using enzymes to remove nutrients from the blood has precedent in cancer (for example, asparaginase in leukemia), but serine-depleting enzymes are a novel, currently preclinical strategy with promising mouse data.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stone, Everett — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Stone, Everett
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.