Stopping melanoma spread by targeting an RNA-reading pathway
Targeting melanoma promoting RNA modification pathway for melanoma therapy.
This work looks at whether blocking a protein that reads cancer-related RNA and its downstream signals can make melanoma cells die more easily and let the immune system clear metastatic tumors.
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 ID | NIH-11250068 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers used large-scale genetic screens in living models to find RNA-binding proteins that help melanoma spread and identified YTHDF1 as a key driver. They found that turning off YTHDF1 makes melanoma cells more likely to die when detached and more vulnerable to natural killer (NK) immune cells. Follow-up molecular studies pointed to two druggable downstream pathways, IMPDH1 (a metabolic enzyme) and TrkB/BDNF (a neurotrophin signaling route), that promote survival and immune evasion. The team plans to test pharmacological ways to block these pathways with the goal of reducing metastasis and improving immune-mediated tumor clearance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with metastatic or high-risk melanoma who are seeking new treatment options and whose tumors show activity in the YTHDF1/IMPDH1/TrkB pathways.
Not a fit: People with early-stage melanoma already cured by surgery, patients with cancers other than melanoma, or tumors lacking these molecular pathways may not benefit from these specific approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce melanoma metastasis and help the immune system eliminate tumor cells, potentially improving outcomes for people with advanced melanoma.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have linked RNA modification readers and IMPDH1 or TrkB signaling to cancer biology, but combining these targets to block metastasis and boost NK-cell killing is a relatively new strategy.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wajapeyee, Narendra — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wajapeyee, Narendra
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.