Preventing heart damage from EGFR-targeting cancer drugs
Official title: Novel mechanisms and therapeutics for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-induced Cardiotoxicity
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11330172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for ways to prevent or reverse heart damage caused by EGFR-targeting cancer drugs like osimertinib for people treated for lung and other cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $708,882 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL173308-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who are receiving or have received osimertinib or other EGFR-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially those with signs of heart dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose heart problems are unrelated to TKIs or who are treated with non-EGFR cancer drugs are less likely to benefit from findings specific to osimertinib cardiotoxicity.
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team created a new mouse model that mimics the heart problems caused by osimertinib. They analyzed heart cells with single-nucleus RNA sequencing and found reduced levels of MYLK3, a protein that helps heart muscle contract. The researchers also exposed human stem cell–derived heart cells to osimertinib and saw the same contractile problems and loss of MYLK3 activity. Next they plan to test strategies to restore MYLK3 or its effects to prevent or fix the drug-induced heart dysfunction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent or reverse left ventricular dysfunction from osimertinib, making cancer therapy safer.
How similar studies have gone: This is a relatively new and specific approach: while TKI cardiotoxicity has been reported, targeted therapies for osimertinib-related heart damage are largely untested to date.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhee, June-Wha — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Rhee, June-Wha
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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.