Restoring p53's Cancer-Fighting Power
Restore the Tumor-Suppressive Activities of p53 Mutants
This project explores how to make a key cancer-fighting protein, p53, work properly again in cancer cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109475 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The p53 protein is a vital tumor suppressor, but it is often mutated in cancer, causing it to lose its ability to stop tumor growth. Researchers have found that another protein, PEPD, binds to both normal and mutated p53, potentially interfering with its function. This project aims to understand how disrupting PEPD's binding can reactivate mutated p53, turning it back into a cancer-fighting agent. The goal is to confirm that this reactivated p53 can effectively suppress tumor growth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that have specific p53 mutations might eventually benefit from treatments developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not involve p53 mutations or whose p53 mutations are not affected by this mechanism may not receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reactivate a crucial cancer-fighting protein in patients whose tumors have specific p53 mutations.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of p53 in cancer is well-known, the specific mechanism of PEPD binding and its disruption to reactivate p53 mutants is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Yuesheng — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Yuesheng
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.