Understanding how a medicine called dasatinib works for T-cell leukemia in children
Biomarkers of dasatinib response and resistance in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
This project looks for clues in children's T-cell leukemia to predict which patients will respond best to the medicine dasatinib.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126071 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a challenging childhood cancer that often doesn't respond well to standard treatments. Researchers have found that some children with T-ALL respond exceptionally well to a drug called dasatinib, even though it wasn't originally designed for this specific type of leukemia. This project uses advanced biology methods to find specific signs, or "biomarkers," in T-ALL cells that show why some patients respond to dasatinib and others do not. The goal is to understand the unique features of T-ALL that make it sensitive or resistant to dasatinib, and to learn why some patients stop responding to the drug.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for children diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, especially those who might be considered for dasatinib treatment.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of leukemia or cancers not related to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors choose the right treatment for children with T-ALL, potentially leading to more effective care and better outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Researchers have already observed that a significant number of pediatric T-ALL cases show an exceptional response to dasatinib, suggesting a promising foundation for this work.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Jun J. — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yang, Jun J.
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.