Targeted therapy combo for KRAS/KEAP1-mutant lung cancer
Official title: Synthetic lethal targeting of KRAS/KEAP1 co-mutant non-small cell lung cancer
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11336415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH-funded project tests a two-drug approach to treat a hard-to-kill form of lung cancer driven by KRAS and KEAP1 mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,020,645 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA285743-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLC who also have KEAP1 mutations may be eligible for future translational steps or related trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without KRAS/KEAP1-mutant NSCLC or those whose tumors do not rely on HDAC4/5 pathways may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer with KEAP1 mutations, this study will explore whether blocking HDAC4/5 with LMK235 and combining it with the approved drug sotorasib can kill cancer cells more effectively. Researchers will study cancer cell lines and aim to move toward therapies that overcome resistance seen with current treatments. The work looks at how these drugs activate tumor-suppressor pathways and promote cancer cell death. This project is led by Rush University Medical Center and seeks to identify a promising treatment strategy for a specific subset of lung cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new, more effective treatment option for KRAS/KEAP1-mutant NSCLC.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows HDAC4/5 inhibition can harm co-mutant cancer cells and that combining LMK235 with sotorasib may boost cancer cell killing, supporting plausible success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maki, Carl G — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Maki, Carl G
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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.