New treatments for specific cancers driven by the Ras pathway
Developing new therapeutic strategies for distinct Ras-driven cancers
This research looks for better ways to treat certain nervous system and pancreatic cancers that are currently hard to treat.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11062376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many human cancers involve a problem with the Ras pathway, but we still don't have good treatments for these types of tumors. This project focuses on two specific cancers: nervous system tumors linked to NF1 gene changes and pancreatic cancers with KRAS gene changes. We want to understand why current medications, called MEK inhibitors, don't work well for these cancers. Our goal is to use this knowledge to create and test new combination treatments that could be more effective for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with NF1-mutant nervous system tumors or KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancers may eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers not driven by Ras pathway mutations or those without NF1 or KRAS mutations may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective combination therapies for patients with NF1-mutant nervous system tumors and KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancers.
How similar studies have performed: While Ras-driven cancers remain challenging, this research seeks novel insights to overcome current treatment limitations and develop new approaches.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cichowski, Karen M — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cichowski, Karen M
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.