Targeting stress defenses in eye melanoma that spreads to the liver
Official title: Exploiting oxidative stress response in uveal melanoma liver metastases
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11298994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $466,974 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282901-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11298994 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with uveal melanoma that has spread to the liver, particularly those whose tumors have BAP1 mutations, would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without liver metastases, those with other cancer types, or whose tumors lack the specific molecular features studied (such as BAP1 mutation) are less likely to see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
The team will examine how uveal melanoma cells that spread to the liver cope with lipid-rich, oxidative stress environments, with a focus on tumors that carry BAP1 mutations. They will use lab-grown tumor cells, human liver tissue slices co-cultured with tumor cells, and animal models to see if triggering ferroptosis (a form of cell death tied to lipid peroxides) can kill tumor cells. The project will test drugs that block anti-ferroptotic defenses and compare responses between BAP1-mutant and BAP1-wildtype tumors. Findings aim to point to drug strategies that could be moved toward clinical testing for metastatic uveal melanoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that make liver metastases from uveal melanoma more treatable and potentially improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work in other cancers suggests targeting ferroptosis can be effective, but applying this approach to BAP1-mutant uveal melanoma liver metastases is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartsough, Edward — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Hartsough, Edward
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How uveal melanoma cells send signals that help them spread
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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.