Making Cancer Cells More Sensitive to Radiation
PAIRS: Validating telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) as an intrinsic vulnerability toward sensitizing cancer to radiation
This project explores how blocking a specific protein in cancer cells might make radiation therapy work better for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136333 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many cancers rely on a protein called TERT to grow and survive, and it also helps them resist radiation treatment. This project aims to find out if temporarily blocking TERT during radiation therapy can make cancer cells more vulnerable to the treatment. The goal is to improve how well radiation works against tumors while protecting healthy tissues. Researchers hope this approach could lead to more effective cancer treatments in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be patients with cancers that express high levels of the TERT protein and are candidates for radiation therapy.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not rely on TERT or who are not receiving radiation therapy may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make radiation therapy more effective for many types of cancer, potentially leading to better outcomes and fewer side effects for patients.
How similar studies have performed: While previous attempts to target TERT for telomere erosion in solid tumors were not successful, this project explores a novel strategy of transiently targeting TERT to enhance radiation sensitivity.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kron, Stephen J. — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kron, Stephen J.
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.