Targeting epigenomic regulators to assault pancreatic cancer replication stress
Official title: Targeting Epigenomic Regulators at the Replication Fork in PDAC
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11522481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research tests a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by blocking key epigenetic regulators during DNA replication to make cancer cells less able to cope with replication stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $290,700 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA247898-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11522481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or those at high risk where epigenetic therapies could be relevant in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with pancreatic cancer who have contraindications to epigenetic therapies or do not respond to such strategies may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is very hard to treat, so this project looks for new treatment strategies by focusing on epigenetic machinery during DNA replication. It proposes that the epigenetic regulator G9a helps pancreatic cancer cells tolerate replication stress, and aims to understand and disrupt this interaction with the cell’s DNA damage response. By studying how these factors work together in PDAC cells, the work could reveal timing and combination strategies for epigenetic inhibitors to improve cancer cell kill. The research will use cellular and molecular approaches to connect replication dynamics with epigenetic control in pancreatic cancer models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective use of epigenetic drugs to treat pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that epigenetic regulators can influence cancer cell response to replication stress, supporting the rationale for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lomberk, Gwen — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Lomberk, Gwen
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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.