Targeting drug-resistant groups of tumor cells
Drug Mechanism of Action-based targeting of tumor subpopulations
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11181166
This project matches how cancer drugs change proteins to the different cell types inside tumors to find better ways to hit drug-resistant cells and the immune-suppressing environment.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181166 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Many aggressive cancers contain different cell groups that respond differently to treatment and can create an immune-suppressing neighborhood around the tumor. The team will use single-cell analyses of tumors and a large database of how drugs affect proteins (PanACEA) to map each drug’s mechanism across the various tumor and microenvironment cell types. By linking drug effects to the non-oncogene dependencies of specific subpopulations, researchers aim to find targets that work across heterogeneous tumors rather than only on a single mutation. The work combines high-fidelity tumor models, proteome-wide drug perturbation data, and computational matching to nominate therapeutic strategies that could later be tested in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with aggressive solid tumors or cancers that have not responded to standard targeted therapies or immune checkpoint treatments.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are already well controlled by an approved, mutation-targeted therapy or who cannot undergo tumor profiling may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify therapies that better eliminate drug-resistant tumor cell groups and reduce tumor-driven immune suppression, improving treatment responses.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell profiling and proteomic mapping have shown promise in finding new targets, but matching proteome-wide drug mechanisms across tumor subpopulations is a relatively new and innovative approach.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CALIFANO, ANDREA — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: CALIFANO, ANDREA
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 below.
Conditions: Cancer Center, Cancer Patient, Cancers