Understanding ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion in alveolar soft part sarcoma and its immune environment
Official title: Understanding ASPSCR1:TFE3 fusion protein-driven therapeutic vulnerabilities and potential targets within the tumor immune microenvironment of alveolar soft part sarcoma
Funded at University of Oklahoma · NIH-11269429 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is studying a rare cancer called alveolar soft part sarcoma and how a specific fusion protein might shape the tumor’s immune environment and reveal new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Norman, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $210,085 |
| NIH project number | 1P20GM162339-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11269429 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma, or those with the ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion, may be candidates for future translational studies or trials linked to this project.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ASPS or without the ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion may not directly benefit from this grant.
What this research studies
This project focuses on the ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion protein that drives a rare sarcoma, aiming to understand how different fusion isoforms affect transcription and the surrounding immune cells. Researchers will examine how these isoforms may create immunogenic neoantigens and alter the tumor immune microenvironment to identify potential targets for therapy. The work builds on prior clinical data showing some response to immune checkpoint inhibitors and seeks to explain why responses occur. The grant plans translational studies using patient-derived samples and models to pinpoint vulnerabilities that could guide future personalized treatments for ASPS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new therapeutic targets and help tailor immunotherapy strategies for people with ASPS.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence shows immune activity with ICIs in ASPS, suggesting that further mechanistic work could translate into targeted therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma
Norman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naqash, Abdul Rafeh — University of Oklahoma
- Study coordinator: Naqash, Abdul Rafeh
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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.