New way to block harmful p53 mutations in cancer
A novel therapeutic strategy to target mutant p53
Trying a peptide and a small drug to stop a harmful form of the p53 protein that helps some cancers grow, especially triple-negative breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266210 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found that a chain of proteins (CDK4, RBM38, and eIF4G) helps cancer cells make more mutant p53, which can drive tumor growth and treatment resistance. They developed a short peptide (Pep8SD) and discovered a small molecule (094-63) that can interrupt this interaction and lower mutant p53 levels in lab tests. This project will map how the CDK4-RBM38-eIF4G pathway controls mutant p53 and test these compounds in cell and animal models relevant to triple-negative breast cancer. The goal is to refine these leads so they might move closer to treatments that target tumors with mutant p53.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People whose tumors carry TP53 (p53) mutations—particularly patients with triple-negative breast cancer whose tumors show high RBM38/CDK4/eIF4G—would be the most relevant candidates for future trials from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not have mutant TP53 or are driven by unrelated pathways are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that reduce mutant p53 and slow growth or improve responses to chemotherapy in cancers like triple-negative breast cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Other lab and early-phase efforts to target mutant p53 have shown promise in preclinical models, but the peptide/small-molecule strategy here is relatively new and not yet tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xinbin — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xinbin
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.