Targeting p53 and ferroptosis for IDH1-mutant brain tumors
Exploring p53-mediated ferroptosis to treat IDH1-mutant glioma
This project aims to see whether reactivating the p53 pathway can make IDH1-mutant gliomas more likely to die from ferroptosis, a form of cell death, to help people with IDH1-mutant brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312566 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are exploring a natural tumor-suppressor called p53 and a cell-death process called ferroptosis to find new ways to kill glioma cells that carry an IDH1 mutation. The team uses laboratory-grown 3D tumor models, animal experiments, and analyses of human tumor samples to understand how TP53 changes affect sensitivity to ferroptosis. They will test genetic and drug approaches that reactivate p53 or boost ferroptosis specifically in IDH1-mutant tumor models. The goal is to identify strategies that could be translated into targeted therapies for people whose tumors have this mutation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with gliomas whose tumors test positive for an IDH1 mutation (especially the common Arg132 change) would be the most relevant candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without an IDH1-mutant glioma, or those with unrelated cancer types, are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that selectively kill IDH1-mutant glioma cells and slow tumor growth or improve survival for those patients.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work has shown that p53 can influence ferroptosis and that inducing ferroptosis can kill some cancer cells, but applying these findings specifically to IDH1-mutant glioma is a relatively new and mostly preclinical area.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, L. Eric — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Huang, L. Eric
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.