Targeting fatty acid synthase to fight colon cancer
Official title: Fatty Acid Synthase as a Novel Molecular Target for Colon Cancer Treatment
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11286775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is trying an oral drug that blocks a fat-making enzyme (FASN) to help people with colon cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,968 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284532-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with colorectal (colon) cancer, especially those eligible for short-term pre-surgery (window) treatment or clinical trials of TVB-2640.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on fatty acid synthesis, who have major medical issues, or who cannot take the study drug are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This work focuses on a drug called TVB-2640 that blocks fatty acid synthase (FASN), an enzyme many colon cancers use to grow and resist treatment. Researchers have already given short pre-surgery courses of TVB-2640 to patients and found it hits its target and has a manageable safety profile. The team will combine patient tumor samples, lab models, and clinical data to see how blocking FASN affects tumor growth and treatment resistance. Their goal is to find which patients are most likely to benefit and how FASN inhibitors might be used with existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, blocking FASN could slow tumor growth, improve responses to chemotherapy, and add a new treatment option for people with colon cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early lab studies and a short-term human window trial of TVB-2640 showed strong target engagement and tolerable safety, but larger trials are needed to confirm clinical benefit.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Tianyan — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Gao, Tianyan
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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.