Overcoming Resistance to BRAF Inhibitors in Aggressive Thyroid Cancers
Official title: Overcoming Acquired Resistance to BRAF Inhibition in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11420947 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused research effort to find new ways to treat difficult thyroid cancers that no longer respond to current BRAF inhibitors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $474,998 |
| NIH project number | 1P01CA314921-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420947 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) or anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) who harbor BRAFV600E or related MAPK pathway alterations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on BRAFV600E or the MAPK pathway, or who cannot tolerate potential combination therapies, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses lab models including cell lines and mouse models derived from poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers to study how these tumors grow and resist treatment. Researchers will map pathways linked to BRAFV600E, test new drugs that hit multiple targets, and examine how the tumor environment supports immune-suppressing cells. The goal is to identify combination strategies that prevent or overcome resistance when patients receive BRAF inhibitors. The work will help guide future therapies that could extend survival for people affected by these aggressive thyroid cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that slow or stop progression of resistant thyroid cancers and improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that targeting multiple pathways may overcome resistance to BRAF inhibitors in thyroid cancer models, with some early success in preclinical studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hofmann, Marie-Claude Catherine — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hofmann, Marie-Claude Catherine
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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.