Targeting RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D to treat Uveal Melanoma
Official title: RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D as therapeutic targets for Uveal Melanoma
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11009582 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new treatments for uveal melanoma, a serious eye cancer, by exploring how a protein called RasGRP3 affects the disease, with the hope of finding better options for patients like you.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $454,865 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269338-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009582 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma, particularly those with metastatic disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of melanoma or those whose uveal melanoma is not metastatic may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding new therapies for uveal melanoma, a deadly form of eye cancer that often spreads to the liver. The team is investigating the role of RasGRP3, a protein that is overexpressed in uveal melanoma, and its connection to cancer signaling pathways. By understanding how RasGRP3 and Protein Kinase D (PKD) contribute to the disease, the researchers aim to identify new treatment options that could be more effective than current therapies. Patients with uveal melanoma may benefit from this research as it seeks to develop targeted therapies that address the unique genetic characteristics of their cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, effective treatments for patients with uveal melanoma, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant progress in treating other melanoma subtypes, this approach targeting RasGRP3 and PKD in uveal melanoma is novel and has not been extensively tested.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.