New drugs that target EGFR changes in glioblastoma
Small molecule inhibitors with a therapeutic window for EGFR signaling variants in glioblastoma
Trying new medicines that block the faulty EGFR signals that drive some glioblastomas while leaving normal EGFR working elsewhere.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11164788 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have glioblastoma, this project is designing small-molecule drugs to selectively block the abnormal EGFR activity that fuels some tumors. The team is developing allosteric inhibitors meant to shut down ligand-independent EGFR signaling in tumor cells while sparing ligand-activated EGFR in normal tissues to create a safety "therapeutic window." They will test compounds in laboratory models, including patient-derived tumor models and studies of drug penetration into the brain. Promising candidates would be advanced toward clinical testing if they show tumor selectivity and acceptable safety in preclinical work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with glioblastoma whose tumors show EGFR mutations or focal amplification would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack EGFR-driven alterations, and people under 21, are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could shrink EGFR-driven glioblastomas while causing fewer side effects than earlier EGFR inhibitors.
How similar studies have performed: Mutant-selective EGFR drugs have been highly effective in some lung cancers, but applying selective allosteric EGFR inhibitors to glioblastoma is a new and largely unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eck, Michael J — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Eck, Michael 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.