Stopping drug resistance in KRAS-mutant cancers
Targeting Acquired Resistance in KRAS Driven Cancers
['FUNDING_R37'] · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · NIH-11135403
Looking for ways to keep KRAS-mutant tumors, such as certain colon and pancreatic cancers, from becoming resistant to new KRAS-targeted drugs so treatments work longer for patients.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135403 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying tumors with KRAS mutations to find how they outsmart KRAS-targeted medicines. They will use human cancer cell lines, patient-derived tumor models, and mouse systems to recreate how resistance appears. The team will search for new drug targets and test combination approaches in the lab and in animal models to find treatments that overcome resistance. The work is led at MD Anderson and aims to move promising lab findings toward treatments patients could receive later.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with tumors that carry KRAS mutations—especially KRASG12C—or patients whose cancers stopped responding to KRAS-targeted therapy.
Not a fit: People whose tumors do not have KRAS mutations or whose cancer growth is driven by unrelated pathways are unlikely to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new combination therapies that extend the benefit of KRAS-targeted drugs and improve outcomes for patients with KRAS-mutant cancers.
How similar studies have performed: KRASG12C drugs are newly approved and early clinical experience shows resistance commonly emerges, so this preclinical work builds on known challenges but seeks new, not-yet-established solutions.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YAO, WANTONG — UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- Study coordinator: YAO, WANTONG
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.
Conditions: Cancer Genes, Cancer Model, Cancer Treatment, Cancer cell line, Cancer-Promoting Gene