Targeting quiescent ovarian cancer cells to overcome chemotherapy resistance
Official title: Evaluating unique aspects of quiescent ovarian cancer cell biology for therapeutic targets
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11608576 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study focusing on why some ovarian cancer cells pause dividing and resist chemotherapy, with the goal of finding new treatment targets for relapsed disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $429,746 |
| NIH project number | 6R01CA278100-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11608576 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ovarian cancer, especially those at risk of relapse or with chemoresistant disease, could benefit from future developments stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without relapsed or chemoresistant ovarian cancer may not directly benefit from this specific mechanism-focused study.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand why a subset of ovarian cancer cells enter a quiescent state and how this affects response to standard chemotherapy. Researchers are using innovative approaches to map the transcriptional signature of quiescent ovarian cancer cells and identify vulnerabilities. They have found a Quiescence Associated Secretory Phenotype and changes in the ubiquitin-proteasome system that may drive resistance, and they are testing how SRF/MRTF pathway inhibition impacts this biology. The results could point to new therapeutic targets to prevent relapse and improve outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to prevent relapse and improve survival for ovarian cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have begun to reveal quiescent cell biology and UPS alterations as contributors to chemoresistance, suggesting this approach could yield actionable targets.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buckanovich, Ronald J — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Buckanovich, Ronald J
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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.