Radiotherapeutic approaches for a rare abdominal cancer in young people
Official title: The Development of Radiotherapeutic Paradigms for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Funded at Hunter College · NIH-11315235 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new targeted radiotherapy approach is being developed for desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a rare cancer that mainly affects children and young adults and has few treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hunter College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,222 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA309945-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11315235 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with DSRCT, particularly those with limited treatment options and within the age range affected by the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with DSRCT whose tumors do not express FGFR4 or LRRC15, or who cannot receive radiolabeled therapies, may not benefit.
What this research studies
DSRCT is an exceedingly rare cancer with a poor prognosis and no established standard therapy. This grant supports creating radiotherapeutic agents that target two proteins common in DSRCT cells, using labeled antibodies to deliver radiation directly to the tumor. The project includes designing, testing in the lab, and evaluating these radioactive therapies in models to see how well they target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. If successful, this work could pave the way for new treatment options for patients with DSRCT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with DSRCT could have access to a new targeted therapy option that attacks cancer cells while limiting damage to normal tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in targeted radiotherapies has shown promise in other cancers, but this exact approach for DSRCT is novel and requires validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Hunter College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeglis, Brian Matthew — Hunter College
- Study coordinator: Zeglis, Brian Matthew
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.