METTL3's role in driving a stubborn form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Official title: Define the oncogenic role of METTL3 in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11364209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-related study looks at how METTL3 helps a common leukemia (CLL) grow and resist treatment, with the goal of finding better therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $526,694 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282450-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially aggressive or high-risk cases, who may participate through future clinical trials or related biospecimen studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without CLL or those not eligible for METTL3-targeted approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how a cellular enzyme called METTL3 changes RNA messages in CLL B cells and how it may fuel aggressive disease. Using patient-derived CLL cells and normal B cells, the team will analyze RNA modifications and protein interactions to understand how METTL3 influences RNA splicing. They will test whether METTL3 inhibitors can reduce cancer cell growth and interfering splicing factors, aiming to identify a new therapeutic approach. The work builds on prior findings that METTL3 is highly expressed in CLL and linked to poor outcomes, and it will combine transcriptome and proteome analyses to validate METTL3 as a potential drug target.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with aggressive CLL could benefit from new therapies targeting METTL3 or the RNA splicing pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies show METTL3 inhibitors can slow CLL cell growth, suggesting potential for translation to patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Lili — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wang, Lili
Related research
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AVO: a new triplet therapy for untreated high-risk CLL
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Rewiring cancer pathways to trigger death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
A Stanford-led study aims to use a new class of small molecules to flip cancer-driving signals so CLL cells die, offering hope for patients who have exhausted other therapies.
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Researchers are studying why some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia stop benefiting from BTK inhibitors and how to overcome that resistance.
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National teamwork to improve care for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B‑cell lymphomas
This effort brings together national cancer groups to test new targeted and combination treatments for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B‑cell lymphomas.
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.