Pol-theta blockers for BRCA-mutated cancers
Development of Best-in-Class Pol-Theta Inhibitors
Testing new oral drugs that block Pol-theta to kill cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations, like some breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306613 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is creating improved oral Pol-theta inhibitor drugs aimed at cancers that have BRCA1/2 mutations. If I have a BRCA-deficient tumor, these drugs are designed to exploit the cancer's DNA-repair weakness and preferentially kill tumor cells. The team is optimizing potency, absorption, and how long the drug stays in the body using lab assays and animal tests before any human trials. The researchers hope these compounds will work where earlier Pol-theta inhibitors or PARP inhibitors failed because of resistance or poor drug properties.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers that carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations—especially breast, ovarian, prostate, or pancreatic cancer patients and those with tumors resistant to PARP inhibitors—would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: People without BRCA1/2 mutations or whose cancers repair DNA normally are unlikely to benefit, and the work is currently preclinical so it's not yet available as a treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer a new targeted oral therapy for people with BRCA-deficient cancers and for patients whose tumors no longer respond to PARP inhibitors.
How similar studies have performed: Early lab studies and some prototype Pol-theta inhibitors have selectively killed BRCA-deficient cells, but previous compounds suffered from low potency or poor drug-like properties, so this work aims to produce better candidates.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pomerantz, Richard T — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Pomerantz, Richard T
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.