Understanding glioblastoma necrosis to find new therapeutic targets
Official title: The role and mechanism of necrosis in glioblastoma
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11448748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why a deadly brain cancer called glioblastoma becomes so aggressive, with a focus on necrosis and a cell death process that may open doors to new treatments for adults living with this disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,538,967 |
| NIH project number | 2RF1NS119547-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with glioblastoma, especially those with mesenchymal subtype features, could benefit from future therapies derived from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not exhibit necrosis-related pathways may not directly benefit from these specific findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how death and destruction inside glioblastoma tumors drive their growth, especially in the mesenchymal subtype which has the worst outlook. By studying patient tumor samples, tissue features, and mouse models, the team will map where necrosis occurs and how it influences cancer behavior. They will test how neutrophils, a type of immune cell, interact with tumor cells to promote a form of dying cells called ferroptosis and how this could be turned into a therapy. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities in tumor necrosis that could be targeted to slow or stop MES glioblastoma progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new targets to develop therapies that slow glioblastoma growth and improve outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work showed neutrophils can drive ferroptosis in tumor cells, supporting the potential of this approach, but translating to therapies remains a next step.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Wei — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Li, Wei
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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.