Targeting RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D in uveal (eye) melanoma
Official title: RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D as therapeutic targets for Uveal Melanoma
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11252175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking into whether blocking the proteins RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D can lead to new treatments for people with uveal (eye) melanoma, especially those whose cancer has spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $454,944 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269338-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with uveal melanoma—particularly those with tumors harboring GNAQ/GNA11 mutations or with liver metastases—would be the most relevant candidates for future trials stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other melanoma subtypes or cancers that do not show activation of the Gαq–RasGRP3–PKD pathway are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
This research focuses on uveal melanoma, an eye cancer that commonly spreads to the liver and is often hard to treat. Researchers will study why RasGRP3 is unusually high in uveal melanoma and how it links mutant Gαq signaling to cancer growth. They will use lab models, CRISPR gene tools, drug inhibitors, and analysis of human tumor samples to test whether blocking RasGRP3 or Protein Kinase D (PKD) slows tumor growth or reverses resistance to MEK inhibitors. Promising lab findings would guide development of new drugs or future clinical trials for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new drug targets that lead to more effective treatments for metastatic uveal melanoma.
How similar studies have gone: This is a relatively new approach for uveal melanoma; prior targeted and immune therapies have mostly failed in this disease, although preclinical data indicate PKD may drive resistance and is a promising target.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xu — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting serotonin receptors to boost a cancer cell weakness in uveal melanoma
A small funding project tests whether blocking the serotonin HTR2B receptor can weaken mutant GNAQ/GNA11-driven uveal melanoma cells to help fight metastatic eye cancer.
-
Dual mRNA therapeutics aimed at liver metastasis from uveal melanoma
A new approach uses two mRNA-based therapies designed to target liver metastases in adults with uveal melanoma.
-
Improving treatment response in uveal melanoma by targeting Syk with new translational models
A Mayo Clinic team is exploring whether blocking the Syk protein can make uveal melanoma more responsive to PARP inhibitors in patients who have this eye cancer that often spreads.
-
How uveal melanoma cells send signals that help them spread
This project follows adults with uveal melanoma and tracks signals in eye fluid and blood to find early signs that the cancer may be spreading.
-
A safe, minimally invasive test to predict uveal melanoma metastasis risk from eye fluid
A new test using a sample from the eye’s aqueous fluid could predict if uveal melanoma is likely to spread, without needing a risky biopsy.
-
Targeting stress defenses in eye melanoma that spreads to the liver
Researchers are working to weaken tumor cells' defenses against oxidative damage so liver metastases from uveal (eye) melanoma in adults become more vulnerable to treatment.
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.