Tests to identify how cancers keep their chromosome ends (telomeres) intact
Robust assays to define telomere maintenance mechanisms as cancer biomarkers.
['FUNDING_U01'] · TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER · NIH-11193848
This project is creating lab tests to tell whether a patient's cancer uses telomerase, the ALT pathway, or neither so doctors can better understand the tumor.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LUBBOCK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11193848 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I or my child had cancer, this work would develop lab tests that measure TERT mRNA and detect C-circles in tumor samples to find which telomere maintenance mechanism the cancer uses. The team uses PCR-based assays and RNA measurements on tumor tissue or specimens to sort cancers into telomerase-positive, ALT-positive, or TMM-negative groups. They have shown this classification gives stronger prognostic information in neuroblastoma and are testing whether the same approach helps classify other cancer types. Finding a tumor's telomere mechanism could reveal specific vulnerabilities that lead to more targeted treatment options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with solid tumors (including childhood neuroblastoma) who can provide tumor tissue or consent to biomarker testing.
Not a fit: Patients without available tumor samples or whose cancers do not use telomere maintenance mechanisms may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tests could help predict outcomes and guide more targeted treatments for patients whose tumors rely on ALT or telomerase.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work using TERT mRNA and C-circle assays has classified neuroblastoma and shown prognostic value, so parts of this approach have prior supporting results while broader application is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
LUBBOCK, UNITED STATES
- TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER — LUBBOCK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: REYNOLDS, CHARLES PATRICK — TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER
- Study coordinator: REYNOLDS, CHARLES PATRICK
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.