Targeting a specific protein to improve treatment for Ewing sarcoma
Official title: Dissecting and targeting PAK4 in Ewing sarcoma
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10980926 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a specific protein called PAK4 that is linked to worse outcomes in kids and young adults with Ewing sarcoma, and it aims to find new treatments that can help improve their chances of recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $436,850 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA287083-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980926 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, especially those with metastatic or relapsed forms of the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-Ewing sarcoma bone tumors or those who are not diagnosed with cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. The study aims to investigate the role of p21-activated kinases (PAKs), particularly PAK4, which is found to be overexpressed in metastatic Ewing sarcoma and linked to poor patient outcomes. By exploring targeted therapies that inhibit PAK4, the research seeks to improve treatment options and outcomes for patients with high-risk Ewing sarcoma. The approach includes both laboratory experiments and potential pharmacological interventions to assess the effectiveness of targeting this protein.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with Ewing sarcoma, particularly those with metastatic disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting similar pathways in cancer treatment, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yustein, Jason — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Yustein, Jason
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.