POU2F3-positive tuft cell–like cancers
Official title: Biology and vulnerabilities of POU2F3+ tuft cell-like carcinomas
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11321690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look for what makes a rare tumor called POU2F3-positive tuft cell–like carcinoma grow and identify weak spots that could be targeted by future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $673,208 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA290004-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321690 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors test positive for POU2F3 or are diagnosed as tuft cell–like carcinomas would be the most relevant candidates to provide samples or be considered for future trials informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that do not express POU2F3 or with unrelated tumor types are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a newly recognized lineage of cancers defined by the POU2F3 protein and will compare these tumors to other cancer types to find what makes them unique. Scientists will study tumor samples and laboratory models to map the molecular partners of POU2F3, including coactivators OCA-T1/OCA-T2, and to reveal pathways that the cancer depends on. The team will use biochemical, genomic, and cellular experiments to test which molecular features create vulnerabilities that drugs could exploit. Findings are intended to guide development of targeted therapies for patients with POU2F3-positive tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets and lead to treatments tailored for patients with POU2F3-positive tuft cell–like cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Targeting master regulator proteins has led to effective therapies in other cancers (for example, androgen receptor antagonists), but directly targeting POU2F3-driven biology is a newer and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vakoc, Christopher — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Vakoc, Christopher
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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.