New methods to enhance treatment for mesothelioma
Official title: Novel strategies to improve mesothelioma therapy
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11074658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain antidepressant medications might help make chemotherapy work better for people with malignant mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, by blocking the ways cancer cells protect themselves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $472,831 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290173-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma who are undergoing or considering chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mesothelioma who are not receiving chemotherapy or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how certain antidepressant drugs can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy for patients with malignant mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms that make mesothelioma cells resistant to chemotherapy and how these drugs can inhibit protective processes in cancer cells. By combining antidepressants with a specific inhibitor, the research aims to enhance the sensitivity of mesothelioma cells to chemotherapy, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes. Patient biopsies will also be analyzed to assess the effects of these treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with mesothelioma, improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that combining certain drugs can enhance chemotherapy effectiveness, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Haining — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Yang, Haining
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
National Mesothelioma Biobank expands patient biospecimen and data sharing for research
A national biobank collects blood, tissue, and clinical data from mesothelioma patients to help researchers develop better diagnostics and treatments.
-
Intraperitoneal CAR T cells for peritoneal mesothelioma
A new approach uses CAR T cells delivered directly into the abdominal cavity to target mesothelioma, aiming to help people whose disease is confined to the abdomen.
-
Liquid multiomics to tailor systemic treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Researchers are testing liquid biomarkers to help choose personalized treatments for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
-
New ways to make mesothelioma treatment work better
This project looks at whether common antidepressant drugs plus a drug that blocks Mcl-1 can help chemotherapy work better for people with malignant mesothelioma.
-
Targeting mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for pleural mesothelioma
The team will try medicines that change cancer cell mitochondria to help immunotherapy work better for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
-
Tumor-targeted imaging and alpha-particle therapy for mesothelioma
This project develops an antibody-based imaging approach and a targeted alpha-particle therapy to find and kill mesothelioma tumors, including hard-to-treat sarcomatoid cases.
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.