Reducing harmful cell stress in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Official title: Targeting ER stress response in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11262307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests blocking a specific cell 'stress' pathway to slow aggressive B‑cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in people with CLL.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2013 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $403,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA163910-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially those with unmutated IgHV or clinically aggressive disease, would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without CLL or those with indolent CLL carrying mutated IgHV are less likely to see direct benefit from the approaches tested here.
What this research studies
If you have CLL, this work focuses on a cell stress pathway called IRE‑1/XBP‑1s that helps aggressive CLL cells survive. Researchers compare aggressive (unmutated IgHV) and indolent (mutated IgHV) human CLL samples and use mice that lack AID to mimic the more aggressive form. They will test combinations of drugs that target the ER stress response in lab models and on patient‑derived cells to find approaches that reduce CLL growth. The overall aim is to identify treatments that could move into patient trials in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new drug combinations that slow or shrink aggressive CLL and improve outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in mice and analyses of human CLL cells show the IRE‑1/XBP‑1s pathway supports aggressive disease, but clinical testing of pathway blockers in patients remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Chih-Chi Andrew — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Hu, Chih-Chi Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Tracing how chronic lymphocytic leukemia can change into Richter’s syndrome
A physician-scientist is studying why CLL sometimes changes into Richter’s syndrome and how this transition happens at the genetic level, with the goal of better outcomes for people living with CLL.
-
Paradigm shift in managing untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia in older adults
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AVO: a new triplet therapy for untreated high-risk CLL
A new, time-limited combination therapy (acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab) is being tested for people with newly diagnosed high-risk CLL to see how well it works and how safe it is.
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Rewiring cancer pathways to trigger death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
A Stanford-led study aims to use a new class of small molecules to flip cancer-driving signals so CLL cells die, offering hope for patients who have exhausted other therapies.
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METTL3's role in driving a stubborn form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
A cancer-related study looks at how METTL3 helps a common leukemia (CLL) grow and resist treatment, with the goal of finding better therapies.
-
Understanding why BTK inhibitors stop working in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Researchers are studying why some people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia stop benefiting from BTK inhibitors and how to overcome that resistance.
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.