Targeting GPR56 to Treat Colorectal Cancer
The Role and Therapeutic Targeting of GPR56 in Colorectal Cancer
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · NIH-11301907
This project is developing antibody-drug therapies that aim at the protein GPR56 to help people with colorectal cancer whose tumors resist standard treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11301907 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use tumor tissue from patients to grow mini-tumors in the lab (patient-derived organoids) to learn how GPR56 helps cancer stem-like cells survive and spread. They will create specialized antibodies linked to toxic drugs (antibody-drug conjugates, ADCs) that seek out GPR56-positive cancer cells and test combinations with existing chemotherapies. Lab tests and animal models will check how well these ADCs kill cancer cells and what side effects they cause. The team hopes to identify approaches that could be moved toward clinical testing for people with hard-to-treat colorectal cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with colorectal cancer—especially those with advanced or chemotherapy-resistant tumors that show high GPR56 levels—who could donate tissue or be future trial participants.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not express GPR56, those with other cancer types, or those seeking immediate standard-of-care treatment rather than tissue donation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted therapies that kill resistant colorectal cancer cells and reduce metastasis.
How similar studies have performed: Antibody-drug conjugates have produced strong results in some other cancers, but targeting GPR56 in colorectal cancer is a novel approach with limited prior clinical data.
Where this research is happening
HOUSTON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON — HOUSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CARMON, KENDRA S. — UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- Study coordinator: CARMON, KENDRA S.
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: Anti-Cancer Agents