Targeting CLK2 to Fight Rhabdomyosarcoma
Official title: Exploring CLK2 as a novel therapeutic target in rhabdomyosarcoma
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11454705 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if blocking CLK2 can weaken rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cells, potentially offering a new treatment for kids and young adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | June 12, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,681 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA307748-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454705 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with rhabdomyosarcoma or related RMS biology, particularly those who could benefit from novel targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not depend on CLK2 or who cannot tolerate targeted splicing therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that mainly affects children and young people. It tests whether inhibiting CLK2, a protein involved in RNA splicing, can reduce cancer cell survival and make existing treatments more effective. The work involves lab experiments with RMS cells to see how blocking CLK2 affects their growth and survival, with a view toward translating findings to the clinic. If promising, it could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies that slow disease progression and improve outcomes for patients. The researchers aim to establish whether CLK2 inhibition is a feasible and safe therapeutic approach in RMS models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with rhabdomyosarcoma may gain a new, targeted treatment option that could improve survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked splicing alterations to RMS biology, suggesting potential for CLK2-targeted approaches, but clinical translation remains early.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Jun — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yang, Jun
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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.