Targeting the cancer protein FAK to block tumor growth and spread
Focal Adhesion Kinase - Tumor Biology and Therapeutics
New drugs that block a cancer protein called FAK are being developed to help people with solid tumors such as melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259550 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a new type of drug called a 'stapled' peptide that sticks to the FAT part of the FAK protein and prevents it from attaching to other proteins that help tumors grow and spread. Early compounds (named UA-1907, UA-2012, UA-2023) bind tightly to this part of FAK and have shown activity in lab models and animal tests. The team is comparing these FAT-directed peptides to traditional FAK enzyme-blocking drugs to see how they change tumor cell behavior, tumor-support structures, and the network of proteins around FAK. They will use lab experiments, molecular measurements, imaging, and animal studies to find candidates with good potency and drug-like properties that could move toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors, especially melanoma or cancers known to have high FAK activity, would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not rely on FAK signaling or people seeking immediate treatment may not gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce a new class of cancer drugs that better stop tumor growth, spread, and support in solid tumors like melanoma.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that block FAK's enzyme activity have shown promise in preclinical and early clinical work, but targeting the FAT scaffolding domain with stapled peptides is a novel and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marlowe, Timothy a — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Marlowe, Timothy a
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 below.