Targeting the cancer-friendly secretory system in a common lung cancer cancer subtype
Official title: Rewired Golgi secretion creates a therapeutic vulnerability in chromosome 3q-amplified NSCLC.
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11433470 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests new ways to block the secretory system inside tumor cells to stop growth and spread in a major subtype of non-small cell lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $635,948 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA316689-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433470 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with non-small cell lung cancer showing 3q amplification and related molecular markers; original patient-derived samples are not required for participation since this is preclinical work, but future trials would target this group.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without 3q amplification or unrelated cancers may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on lung cancers with a specific chromosome amplification and aims to block a Golgi-related secretion pathway that cancer cells rely on. Researchers will explore PLD1 as a therapeutic target and test antibody-drug conjugates against TfR1, both alone and with immune therapy, in mouse models. The work is designed to reveal how disrupting cancer cell secretion affects tumor growth and the surrounding environment. If successful, these strategies could point toward new treatments for patients with 3q-amplified NSCLC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with 3q-amplified NSCLC could gain new treatment options that slow or stop tumor growth by cutting off cancer cells’ ability to secrete pro-tumor factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests targeting secretory pathways can impact tumor progression, but translating this to humans remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tan, Xiaochao — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Tan, Xiaochao
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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.