New anti-mitotic drugs for metastatic melanoma
Official title: Discovery of fused heterocyclic pyrazine based novel anti-mitotic agents for metastatic melanoma
Funded at Middle Tennessee State University · NIH-11142555 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing new medicines that stop cancer cells from dividing to help people with metastatic melanoma, including tumors that resist current chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Middle Tennessee State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Murfreesboro, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $169,233 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154786-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11142555 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Eventually, people with metastatic melanoma—especially those whose tumors are resistant to taxane chemotherapy—would be the candidates for therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage melanoma or whose tumors are treated effectively by existing targeted or immune therapies may not directly benefit from this preclinical drug development work.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing and making novel anti-mitotic compounds that target the tubulin protein in melanoma cells to block cell division. They will use computer modeling and chemical synthesis to optimize these compounds, then test them in laboratory cell cultures and animal models of metastatic melanoma. Early lab and animal results were promising against tumors that resist current taxane drugs, and the team plans further optimization to reduce toxicity and overcome drug resistance. If successful, the best candidates could be advanced toward clinical testing in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce new treatment options that work against metastatic melanoma that no longer responds to existing tubulin-targeting chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Existing tubulin-targeting drugs like paclitaxel and docetaxel are used clinically but have limitations, and this fused-heterocycle approach is novel with promising preclinical (cell and animal) results.
Where this research is happening
-
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banerjee, Souvik — Middle Tennessee State University
- Study coordinator: Banerjee, Souvik
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Harnessing human CD1d-NKT cells to boost melanoma immunotherapy
A small NIH-funded project tests a new approach that uses a special type of immune cell to help treat metastatic melanoma in patients.
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New tubulin-blocking agents for metastatic melanoma
A new class of tiny molecules called fused heterocyclic pyrazines will be studied as potential anti-melanoma drugs, aimed at patients with metastatic melanoma.
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CM-HZ01: a new high-boost IL-2 therapy for advanced melanoma
A new IL-2 based treatment called CM-HZ01 is being developed to help people with metastatic melanoma by steering the immune system toward stronger anti-tumor activity with potentially fewer side effects.
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Investigating how dormant melanoma cells can reactivate and promote cancer growth.
This study is looking at how sleeping melanoma cells can affect nearby cells to help the cancer grow and resist treatment, and it's designed for researchers like Dr. Fane to learn new ways to find better treatments for melanoma.
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Developing a new treatment for metastatic melanoma using a specialized form of interleukin-2.
This study is testing a new treatment called CM-HZ01 that helps boost your immune system to fight metastatic melanoma by specifically activating certain immune cells, aiming to make the existing IL-2 therapy work better with fewer side effects for patients who don’t have many options left.
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Improving detection of early-stage metastatic melanoma using advanced microscopy
This study is testing a new imaging technique to help doctors better identify early-stage melanomas that have spread, so patients can get the right treatment sooner and improve their chances of recovery.
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.