Selective estrogen receptor beta drugs for glioblastoma
Development of Potent Estrogen Receptor Beta Agonists for Treating Glioblastoma
New medicines that activate a protective estrogen receptor (ERβ) to try to slow glioblastoma in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247965 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have glioblastoma, researchers will work to create new drugs that specifically turn on ERβ, a receptor that lab studies show can slow tumor growth. They will test these compounds in GBM cells grown in the lab and in animal models to measure tumor response, safety, and how the drugs are absorbed in the body. The team will use medicinal chemistry to improve potency and avoid activating the harmful ERα receptor and run bioassays to confirm selectivity. The best candidates would be prepared for early human testing if preclinical results are promising.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older diagnosed with glioblastoma would be the ideal candidates for future clinical testing.
Not a fit: People without glioblastoma, those under age 21, or patients whose tumors do not express the protective ERβ receptor are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could slow tumor growth and make standard treatments like radiation and chemotherapy work better, potentially improving survival.
How similar studies have performed: Prior ERβ agonists were safe in humans but showed limited clinical benefit in non-cancer trials, while laboratory work in human GBM models supports ERβ as a tumor suppressor, so the approach is promising but still experimental.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Science Center — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vadlamudi, Ratna K — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Vadlamudi, Ratna K
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.