Mitochondrial problems linked to heart damage from ponatinib in cancer patients
Official title: Mitochondrial Dysfunction Underlies the Integrated Stress Response Activation in Ponatinib-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11374776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at how ponatinib, a cancer drug, can affect the heart and how mitochondria and stress responses might explain this side effect.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $526,507 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164729-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who are treated with ponatinib or at risk of ponatinib-related cardiotoxicity could benefit from the findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving ponatinib or without heart-related risk factors may not see direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to understand why ponatinib can cause heart problems in people with cancer by studying how heart cells respond to stress and how mitochondria are involved. Researchers will examine molecular signals in heart cells to see how the integrated stress response is activated during ponatinib exposure. The findings could point to new ways to prevent or lessen heart damage for patients treated with ponatinib. Results from this work may lead to strategies that protect heart function without reducing the drug’s effectiveness against cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches to prevent ponatinib-related heart damage, helping patients stay on effective cancer therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked stress-response pathways to drug-induced heart injury, showing potential for protective strategies, though specific links to ponatinib are being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Won Hee — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Lee, Won Hee
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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.