Safer medicines to prevent basal and squamous (non‑melanoma) skin cancer
Official title: Development of Potent and non-toxic rexinoids to prevent non-melanoma skin cancer
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11289434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing new, non‑toxic oral rexinoid medicines aimed at preventing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, especially for people with weakened immune systems like organ transplant recipients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | March 7, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,112 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276683-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people at high risk for non‑melanoma skin cancer, for example solid organ transplant recipients or those with a history of multiple basal or squamous cell cancers.
✕Less likely to help
People with melanoma or those who already have advanced non‑melanoma skin cancers requiring immediate surgical treatment may not receive direct benefit from this preventive drug development work.
What this research studies
This project designs and makes new versions of two promising rexinoid compounds (UAB30 and UAB20) to be more potent while avoiding known side effects. Chemists and structural biologists will use x‑ray crystallography and biophysical studies to guide molecule design and optimization. The best candidates will be tested for suitable blood levels for long‑term use, for lack of toxicity, and for their ability to lower cancer‑related inflammatory markers in preclinical models. The goal is oral drugs that prevent non‑melanoma skin cancer without causing problems like high blood lipids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safer, long‑term oral option to prevent basal and squamous skin cancers, particularly for people at high risk such as organ transplant recipients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior rexinoids and the investigators' compounds UAB30 and UAB20 showed promising cancer‑prevention effects in preclinical studies and avoided some common side effects, but creating more potent, safer analogs is a new advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Atigadda, Venkatram Reddy — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Atigadda, Venkatram Reddy
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Creating safe drugs to prevent non-melanoma skin cancer
This study is working on new medications to help prevent skin cancer in people with weakened immune systems, like those who have had organ transplants, by creating safer and more effective options that don’t have the usual side effects of current treatments.
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New ways to prevent non-melanoma skin cancer
This study is looking for new ways to help prevent non-melanoma skin cancers, like basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, by understanding how these cancers develop and testing new treatments that could lower your risk.
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Advancing Treatments for Melanoma and Skin Cancer
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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.