Understanding and overcoming melanoma's resistance to treatment
Defining and targeting epigenetic plasticity-driven drug resistance and immune escape in melanoma
This work explores why melanoma sometimes stops responding to common treatments and how we might make those treatments work better for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136462 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Melanoma can be a challenging cancer because it often finds ways to adapt and become resistant to therapies like BRAF-MEK inhibitors. We are looking into how melanoma cells change from initially responding to treatment to becoming fully resistant, and how the immune system plays a role in this process. Our goal is to understand these changes at a deep level, focusing on a specific protein called HDAC8, which seems to control how melanoma cells become resistant and hide from the immune system. By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to target and overcome this resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to patients with melanoma, particularly those who have experienced or are at risk of their cancer becoming resistant to targeted therapies.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers other than melanoma or those not undergoing targeted therapy for melanoma may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent or reverse drug resistance in melanoma, making current treatments more effective and improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: While targeted therapies for melanoma have shown initial success, the mechanisms of acquired resistance are still being actively explored, making this a novel approach to a known challenge.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smalley, Keiran — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Smalley, Keiran
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.