Understanding and targeting a protein called PAK4 in Ewing sarcoma
Official title: Dissecting and targeting PAK4 in Ewing sarcoma
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11145239 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores a specific protein in Ewing sarcoma to find new ways to treat patients with this bone cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $439,708 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA287083-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145239 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational laboratory research is for patients with Ewing sarcoma, particularly those with advanced or recurring forms of the disease, who may benefit from future targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Ewing sarcoma or those whose cancer does not involve the specific PAK4 protein may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Ewing sarcoma is a type of bone cancer that often affects children and young adults, and while current treatments help many, outcomes for those with advanced or recurring cancer are still very challenging. This project focuses on a protein called PAK4, which our laboratory has found to be highly active and linked to the spread of Ewing sarcoma. We are working to understand how PAK4 helps the cancer grow and spread, and how we might develop new medications to block its activity. The goal is to create more effective and targeted treatments for patients, especially those with high-risk Ewing sarcoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted therapies or combination treatments that improve long-term survival rates for patients with metastatic or relapsed Ewing sarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: While PAK4 is an emerging target, other studies have shown success in targeting similar proteins in cancer, suggesting a promising path for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yustein, Jason — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Yustein, Jason
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered prognostic model for Ewing sarcoma using digital pathology
Researchers are building an AI tool to predict survival for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma using digitized pathology slides.
-
RAPID: A patient-centered, fast-tracked drug trial platform for young people with relapsed Ewing sarcoma and DSRCT
A patient-friendly, open-label phase 2 platform trial tests promising drug combinations for teens and young adults whose Ewing sarcoma or DSRCT has come back or not responded to treatment.
-
TGFβ brakes immune evasion and metastasis in Ewing sarcoma during radiation
A physician-scientist will study whether blocking TGFβ during radiation can help CAR T cells fight Ewing sarcoma and improve patient outcomes.
-
Function and Targeting of ETV6 in Ewing Sarcoma
A scientist at Case Western Reserve University is studying a specific protein, ETV6, that helps a rare bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma, with the goal of finding targeted therapies that could spare healthy cells.
-
Targeting immune markers in Ewing Sarcoma to guide safer, more effective therapies
A funded project at Stanford aims to use immune markers on Ewing Sarcoma to develop targeted immunotherapies that work in children and adults with this cancer.
-
Ewing sarcoma: how DNA repair weaknesses affect risk and treatment
A clinician-researcher team at Dana-Farber is studying how DNA damage repair weaknesses help drive Ewing sarcoma in kids and teens, with the goal of better predicting risk and guiding therapy.
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.