New treatment approach for colorectal cancer with TP53 mutations
Official title: Novel synthetic lethality strategy for TP53 mutant colorectal cancer
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-10904954 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for colorectal cancer patients with a specific gene mutation that makes their cancer cells more vulnerable, aiming to safely target and kill those cancer cells while protecting healthy ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $502,520 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA282430-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10904954 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma that has mutations in the TP53 gene.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with colorectal cancer that do not have TP53 mutations may not benefit from this specific treatment approach.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel treatment strategy for colorectal cancer patients whose tumors have mutations in the TP53 gene. The approach focuses on exploiting the unique DNA repair deficiencies of these cancer cells, which leads to their accumulation of DNA damage when treated with a specific thymidine analogue. By combining this analogue with inhibitors of a DNA repair enzyme, the treatment aims to selectively kill p53-deficient cancer cells while minimizing harm to normal cells. Patients may be involved in clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this innovative therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and less toxic treatment option for patients with TP53 mutant colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using similar strategies to target DNA repair deficiencies in cancer cells, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fountzilas, Christos — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Fountzilas, Christos
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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.