Targeted therapies for a blood cancer called CMML (CBL-mutant CMML)
Official title: Novel targeted therapies for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11386695 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist is testing targeted drugs to treat a hard-to-kill blood cancer called CMML in patients whose cancer has CBL mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $269,244 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA258803-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386695 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with CMML who have CBL mutations and are candidates for targeted therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CMML or without CBL mutations may not benefit from these targeted approaches.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on CMML, a serious blood cancer with limited treatments. Researchers are studying how CBL mutations drive the disease and how drugs like dasatinib and fostamatinib could stop cancer cell growth. They will look at how cells resist treatment and explore combination therapies to prevent resistance. The study uses patient-derived samples and cell models to understand signaling pathways and identify better therapeutic strategies. The goal is to move toward more effective, durable treatments for people with CBL-mutant CMML.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective drug combinations for CMML patients with CBL mutations, potentially improving survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in CMML models support targeting LYN and SYK pathways, with potential for combination strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belizaire, Roger Vincent — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Belizaire, Roger Vincent
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how CMML develops and becomes aggressive
Looks at blocking overactive MEK/ERK signals and BET protein-driven gene activity to slow or reverse aggressive CMML and lower its chance of turning into AML for people whose leukemia has NRAS and ASXL1 mutations.
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Blocking PLK1 in RAS‑mutated chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
People with relapsed or refractory proliferative CMML that has RAS pathway mutations will receive an oral drug called onvansertib that blocks the cell‑division protein PLK1 to look for safety and early signs of benefit.
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How inflammation changes blood stem cells and drives progression in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Looking at whether inflammation changes blood stem cells and speeds disease in adults with CMML.
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Patient-based mouse models to find better treatments for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Researchers are using mice implanted with patients' CMML cells to try out new treatment approaches for people with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
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Understanding how chronic myelomonocytic leukemia resists targeted therapy
This study is looking at how some people with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) might not respond to a treatment called cobimetinib, and it aims to help those patients by figuring out why that happens and finding better ways to treat them.
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Targeting a specific protein to treat a type of blood cancer
This study is looking at a new pill called Onvansertib to see if it can help people with a tough type of blood cancer called chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) that hasn't responded to other treatments, especially for those with specific gene changes.
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.