Targeting gene switches that drive spread in head and neck cancer
Official title: Deciphering epigenetically-regulated pathways to improve targeted therapy for invasion and metastasis in head and neck cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11250979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether blocking specific epigenetic controls can reduce invasive and metastatic behavior in people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $606,038 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032865-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, particularly those with advanced, invasive, or metastatic disease or whose tumors show the hybrid epithelial–mesenchymal features described by the team.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers outside the head and neck region, patients whose tumors lack the hybrid-EM features, or those seeking immediate approved treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical-focused project.
What this research studies
From your perspective, scientists are studying tumor cells that sit in a hybrid state between two cell types that helps cancers invade and spread. They will map the regulatory DNA regions (super-enhancers) that keep cells in this hybrid state and use drugs that block BET proteins plus CRISPR-based tools to turn off candidate genes. Experiments will use patient tumor samples, cell models, and animal models to see which targets most strongly reduce invasion and metastasis. Findings aim to point to more precise targets than current broad BET inhibitors and pave the way for new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targeted approaches to prevent invasion and metastasis and improve outcomes for people with head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory work showed that the BET inhibitor JQ1 modestly reduced invasion and suppressed hybrid-EM cells, but this project uses more targeted CRISPR and genomic mapping approaches to find better, more specific targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Puram, Sidharth Venkata — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Puram, Sidharth Venkata
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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.