NRF2 gene activity and squamous cell lung cancer
Official title: Identifying the effects of NRF2 signaling on lung squamous cell carcinoma development
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11306569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will find out how changes in a gene called NRF2 affect the start and treatment resistance of lung squamous cell carcinoma in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $254,437 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA292297-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306569 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with lung squamous cell carcinoma, especially those whose tumors show NRF2 mutations or high NRF2 activity, are the most relevant group for these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other lung cancer types (for example, adenocarcinoma) or cancers unrelated to NRF2 are unlikely to see direct benefit from this preclinical work in the short term.
What this research studies
You should know the team is using a new mouse model that carries a human-like NRF2 mutation to mimic changes seen in patients. They will track how often tumors form, what the tumors look like under the microscope, and which genes and metabolic pathways the tumors use. The researchers will also study how NRF2 changes immune cells inside tumors because NRF2 activity is linked to poor responses to chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. The goal is to explain why some squamous lung cancers resist treatment and to point to possible new targets for therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could explain why some squamous lung cancers resist chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy and point to new targets for treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies link NRF2 activation to worse outcomes and therapy resistance, but existing mouse models suggest NRF2 activation alone may not cause cancer, so this preclinical approach builds on mixed prior findings and is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weissman, Bernard E. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Weissman, Bernard E.
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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.