New drugs that trigger a cancer cell stress response
UPR Activators for Cancer Therapy
Aiming to use novel compounds to push cancer cells' internal stress system into self-destruction for people with hard-to-treat cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11444784 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a new class of molecules called isatin-derived spirocyclic dimers that turn on the unfolded protein response (UPR) in cancer cells. In the lab they will test these compounds on cancer cells and proof-of-concept models to see if forcing UPR causes cancer cell death while sparing normal cells. The team will study how the compounds work at a molecular level, optimize their design, and compare their effects to existing drugs like proteasome inhibitors. These steps are preclinical laboratory and model-based work carried out at the University of Cincinnati.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers—particularly solid tumors or cancers that have become resistant to standard therapies—are the groups this line of work is intended to help in the future.
Not a fit: Patients without cancer or those whose disease is well controlled by current treatments are unlikely to get direct benefit from this early laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new therapies that kill tumors that do not respond to current treatments, especially some solid cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches that increase UPR, such as proteasome inhibitors, have worked in blood cancers but have not succeeded for many solid tumors, so this represents a novel mechanism being tested.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Natarajan, Amarnath (Amar) — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Natarajan, Amarnath (Amar)
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.