NCI drugs to prevent glioblastoma cells from changing after radiation
Use of CTEP portfolio compounds to counteract phenotype conversion in GBM
This project will see if certain NCI drugs given with radiation can stop glioblastoma cells from changing into more treatment-resistant forms for people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248798 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The researchers will track the rare tumor-initiating cells in glioblastoma using a novel lab tool and test drugs from the NCI CTEP portfolio to block radiation-induced cell changes. They will use biomarker profiles to pick drugs most likely to work together with radiation and screen those combinations in the lab. Promising drug-plus-radiation pairs will be optimized in animal models before any human testing. The work is led at UCLA and aims to personalize which drugs are paired with radiation for each tumor's biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma, especially those receiving radiation treatment, would be the most likely candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without glioblastoma or whose tumors do not show the predictive biomarker profiles are unlikely to benefit from these specific combination strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make radiation therapy more effective and reduce tumor recurrence in patients with glioblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Combining drugs with radiation has shown promise in prior lab and early clinical work, but specifically preventing radiation-induced phenotype conversion in glioblastoma is a relatively new and mainly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pajonk, Frank — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Pajonk, Frank
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.