Targeting angiogenin and plexin-B2 to help prevent glioblastoma from coming back
Official title: Angiogenin and plexin-B2 in therapeutic resistance and disease relapse of GBM
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11249580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will block the protein plexin-B2 and its partner angiogenin to try to reduce therapy-resistant glioblastoma stem cells and delay tumor return in people with glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $552,261 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA289424-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma, especially those treated at or willing to travel to major academic centers, would be the most likely candidates for related clinical follow-up or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or cancers, or whose tumors lack plexin-B2/angiogenin activity, are less likely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer that often comes back after treatment because of therapy-resistant tumor stem cells. Scientists will work with patient-derived tumor cells and use antibodies that block plexin-B2, combined with standard chemotherapy, to see if those resistant cells can be weakened. Most experiments are done in the lab and in animal models, and researchers will measure small RNA signals linked to stemness to track effects. The goal is to find approaches that could be moved into clinical testing if they show strong benefit in preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that make chemotherapy more durable and reduce the chance of glioblastoma recurrence.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work reported by the team showed that blocking plexin-B2 with monoclonal antibodies plus temozolomide slowed tumor recurrence and extended survival in animal models, but human trials have not yet been reported.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Guo-Fu — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hu, Guo-Fu
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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.