Personalized approaches to overcome drug-resistant melanoma
Functional precision approaches to overcome intrinsic and acquired drug resistance in melanoma
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · WISTAR INSTITUTE · NIH-11189802
This project uses patient-derived tumor models to find drug combinations that might help people whose melanoma no longer responds to current treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WISTAR INSTITUTE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11189802 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers grow tiny versions of patients' tumors in the lab and in mice using a large collection of patient-derived tumor models to test how cancers respond to different drugs and combinations. They compare the tumors' genes, proteins, and drug responses to spot patterns that predict which treatments work best. The team aims to use those patterns to pick treatments most likely to overcome both initial and later drug resistance. Successful leads would be prioritized for future clinical testing so patients could benefit from better-targeted therapy options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with recurrent, metastatic, or treatment-resistant melanoma—including those with BRAF mutations—who can provide tumor samples or enroll in future clinical trials based on the findings.
Not a fit: People with early-stage melanoma already cured by surgery or those needing immediate treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this lab-focused preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify treatment combinations and biomarkers that help people with resistant melanoma live longer with fewer toxic effects.
How similar studies have performed: Similar patient-derived tumor model approaches have shown promising signals in the lab and helped prioritize drugs for trials, but they are not yet proven to consistently change outcomes for all patients.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- WISTAR INSTITUTE — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: VILLANUEVA, JESSIE — WISTAR INSTITUTE
- Study coordinator: VILLANUEVA, JESSIE
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.