Targeting STK3 to protect the heart during breast cancer treatment
Official title: Targeting STK3 to mitigate chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11459014 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach tests whether blocking STK3 can protect the heart from chemotherapy damage without reducing its cancer-fighting effect in breast cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,885 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA318009-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11459014 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Breast cancer patients who may receive doxorubicin and/or trastuzumab and are at risk for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving these cardiotoxic therapies or without heart-related risk may have no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to prevent heart Damage from breast cancer therapies like doxorubicin and trastuzumab by targeting STK3, a protein in the Hippo pathway. Researchers have found that inhibiting STK3 may help heart cells survive and maintain function while potentially preserving cancer treatment efficacy. The study uses human engineered cardiac tissues and cancer models to test new STK3 inhibitors and understand how they influence heart protection and tumor growth. If successful, this work could lead to safer cancer therapies that reduce long-term heart-related complications for survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive life-saving cancer treatment with reduced risk of long-term heart damage.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work suggests STK3 inhibitors protect heart tissue in the context of chemotherapy and may affect tumor biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macias, Everardo — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Macias, Everardo
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This project uses patients' own lab-grown heart cells to find genetic risks and ways to stop heart damage from the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in African American children treated for cancer.
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.