Targeting a specific enzyme to treat Ewing Sarcoma in children and adolescents
Official title: FEN1-Nuclease-Targeted Therapy for Ewing Sarcoma
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11075134 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special enzyme helps Ewing Sarcoma cells survive, with the hope of finding new treatments for kids and teens with this type of cancer by using innovative techniques to block that enzyme.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $624,288 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA251414-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11075134 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancers or those who are not diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone and soft tissue cancer that primarily affects children and adolescents. The team is investigating how Ewing Sarcoma cells rely on a specific enzyme called FEN1 for their survival. By using advanced techniques like CRISPR and small molecule inhibitors, the researchers aim to disrupt this dependency, potentially leading to more effective treatments. The project involves collaboration among experts in genetics, cancer biology, and pediatric oncology to explore new therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and targeted therapies for Ewing Sarcoma, improving outcomes for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting similar pathways in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kolodner, Richard D — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Kolodner, Richard D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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AI-powered prognostic model for Ewing sarcoma using digital pathology
Researchers are building an AI tool to predict survival for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma using digitized pathology slides.
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RAPID: A patient-centered, fast-tracked drug trial platform for young people with relapsed Ewing sarcoma and DSRCT
A patient-friendly, open-label phase 2 platform trial tests promising drug combinations for teens and young adults whose Ewing sarcoma or DSRCT has come back or not responded to treatment.
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TGFβ brakes immune evasion and metastasis in Ewing sarcoma during radiation
A physician-scientist will study whether blocking TGFβ during radiation can help CAR T cells fight Ewing sarcoma and improve patient outcomes.
-
Function and Targeting of ETV6 in Ewing Sarcoma
A scientist at Case Western Reserve University is studying a specific protein, ETV6, that helps a rare bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma, with the goal of finding targeted therapies that could spare healthy cells.
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Targeting immune markers in Ewing Sarcoma to guide safer, more effective therapies
A funded project at Stanford aims to use immune markers on Ewing Sarcoma to develop targeted immunotherapies that work in children and adults with this cancer.
-
Ewing sarcoma: how DNA repair weaknesses affect risk and treatment
A clinician-researcher team at Dana-Farber is studying how DNA damage repair weaknesses help drive Ewing sarcoma in kids and teens, with the goal of better predicting risk and guiding therapy.
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.