Rewiring cancer pathways to trigger death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Official title: REWIRING ONCOGENIC PATHWAYS TO INDUCE CELL DEATH IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11367607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $661,135 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA304428-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, including those with relapsed/refractory disease or Richter transformation, who have limited current treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose CLL does not carry the relevant mutations or who cannot tolerate experimental therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have CLL, this project tests a novel type of drug that forces cancer cells to self-destruct by rewiring their internal death pathways. The researchers use chemically induced proximity to activate targeted cell-killing in leukemia cells that carry specific mutations. The work builds on prior findings in related cancers and aims to overcome resistance seen with current BTK inhibitors and BCL-2 antagonists. The study will involve preclinical models and may move toward early clinical testing if results are promising. This grant supports advancing a potentially transformative approach for patients with difficult-to-treat CLL and Richter transformation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option for people with CLL who have exhausted standard therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in related cancers and early studies suggest this strategy can trigger cancer cell death, but clinical effectiveness in CLL remains to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crabtree, Gerald R. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Crabtree, Gerald R.
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.
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Paradigm shift in managing untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia in older adults
A Mayo Clinic doctor is leading a national collaboration to advance new frontline treatments for older adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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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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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.
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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.
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National teamwork to improve care for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and B‑cell lymphomas
This effort brings together national cancer groups to test new targeted and combination treatments for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other B‑cell lymphomas.
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.