Overcoming resistance to cancer treatment in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome
Official title: Targeting Tumor-Driven Immune Tolerance to Overcome Resistance to Hedgehog Inhibition
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11120596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some tumors in people with basal cell nevus syndrome don’t get better with Hedgehog inhibitors, and it aims to find new ways to make these treatments work better by understanding how certain proteins help the tumors survive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $230,711 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA301201-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11120596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with basal cell nevus syndrome who have developed basal cell carcinomas that are resistant to Hedgehog inhibitor therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without basal cell nevus syndrome or those whose tumors are responsive to current Hedgehog inhibitors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how certain tumors in patients with basal cell nevus syndrome resist treatment with Hedgehog inhibitors. It focuses on understanding the role of specific proteins, BRD7 and BRD9, in creating an immune-suppressive environment that allows tumors to grow despite therapy. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 to modify tumor cells, the researchers aim to identify new strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness and improve patient outcomes. The goal is to find ways to overcome the limitations of current therapies for patients whose tumors do not respond to existing treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with resistant tumors, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting immune suppression in tumors is being explored, this specific investigation into BRD9-mediated resistance in basal cell carcinomas is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
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Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Arianna L — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kim, Arianna L
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.