Targeting Wnt signaling to develop new cancer treatments
Official title: Therapeutic targeting of Wnt signaling in cancer
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10979145 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new medicines that can help control a specific cancer-related process in the body, especially for people with colorectal cancer, by targeting certain proteins to make them less active and potentially improve treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $648,718 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269377-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10979145 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer or other cancers associated with aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers not related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create small-molecule drugs that can effectively target and control the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is known to contribute to the development and spread of various cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. The researchers will explore a novel chemical method to inhibit tankyrases, proteins that play a dual role in this signaling pathway, to better understand their function and develop effective treatments. By stabilizing the β-catenin destruction complex, the goal is to enhance the degradation of β-catenin, which is often overactive in cancer cells. This approach could lead to breakthroughs in treating cancers that have been difficult to target with existing therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new and effective treatments for colorectal cancer and potentially other cancers driven by Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been challenges in targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, recent studies suggest that innovative approaches like this one may offer new avenues for successful treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Chuo — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Chuo
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.