Targeting VAV3 and ERa to treat high‑risk B-ALL in adults and children
Official title: Concomitant Inhibition of VAV3 and ERa to Treat High-Risk B-ALL
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11364664 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a new treatment strategy that combines a VAV3 inhibitor with an estrogen receptor degrader to help patients with difficult-to-treat B-ALL, including relapsed cases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,698 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA302945-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364664 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include both pediatric and adult patients with high-risk or relapsed/refractory B-ALL who might benefit from targeted VAV3/ERa–based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose leukemia does not rely on VAV3/ERa signaling or who cannot tolerate the proposed drugs may not benefit.
What this research studies
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) remains hard to cure, especially in adults, due to relapse and resistance. The project studies how VAV3 and estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) interact to drive leukemia cell growth and whether a VAV3 inhibitor plus fulvestrant can work together to stop it. Researchers will use lab experiments and preclinical models to understand mechanisms and find the most effective sequencing and combinations. If successful, this approach could lead to new, targeted therapies for relapsed or treatment-resistant B-ALL patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If this strategy works, patients with high-risk B-ALL could gain more effective, targeted treatment options with potentially longer remissions.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that targeting VAV3 and ERa can create dependency in B-ALL cells, with sequential treatment showing durable responses in models.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nassar, Nicolas — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Nassar, Nicolas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Preventing childhood B-ALL through maternal diet and TVA intake
A study at Loyola University Chicago will explore whether a mother’s intake of TVA during pregnancy can help prevent childhood B-ALL in babies.
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Metabolic drivers of B-ALL diversity and relapse risk
A study at Stanford will explore how diverse B-cell receptor rearrangements and their metabolism shape relapse risk in children and adults with B-ALL, with the goal of improving detection and treatment.
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Donor CAR T Cells Added to Transplant to Prevent Relapse in adults with B-ALL
A new approach combines donor CAR-T cells targeting CD19 and CD22 with a stem cell transplant to lower relapse risk in adults with B-ALL.
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Improving CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric B-ALL
A physician-scientist at St. Jude aims to advance CAR T-cell therapy for children with high-risk B-ALL by testing new donor-derived and enhanced autologous CAR T-cell approaches in early-phase trials.
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Understanding how genetics contribute to childhood B-ALL (a type of leukemia)
Aims to map genetic risk factors that lead to relapse or development of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, with a focus on diverse populations.
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Off-the-shelf regulatory T cell therapy for blood cancers (CAR-T Tregs)
A patient-focused look at a potential cell therapy that uses donor-derived regulatory T cells engineered to attack certain blood cancers.
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.