Protein signaling that drives platinum resistance in ovarian cancer
Novel protein kinase signaling associated with platinum resistance in ovarian cancer
This project looks at a protein called SRMS that may make platinum chemotherapy less effective for people with ovarian cancer, especially when the tumor lacks working p53.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178437 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers screened many kinases in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells and identified SRMS as a top regulator of resistance. They analyzed patient tumor data and found higher SRMS levels linked to poorer responses to platinum drugs and shorter survival. In lab experiments, reducing SRMS made p53-deficient ovarian cancer cells more sensitive to platinum, and SRMS appears to block a key cell-death pathway called JNK. The team is using molecular and cellular approaches and human tumor datasets to define how SRMS causes resistance and to point toward ways to overcome it.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent or platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, especially those whose tumors have p53 mutations or high SRMS expression, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that are already sensitive to platinum, non-ovarian cancers, or tumors with intact p53 signaling may not directly benefit from findings focused on SRMS-driven resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to SRMS as a new target to restore platinum sensitivity and improve outcomes for people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting kinase-driven resistance and engaging the JNK cell-death pathway has precedent in cancer research, but implicating SRMS specifically in platinum resistance is a novel finding.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Shuang — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Huang, Shuang
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.