Understanding how a specific enzyme affects cancer growth and treatment resistance
Official title: Mechanisms of APOBEC3A-induced cancer evolution and cancer vulnerability
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11070389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called APOBEC3A affects lung cancer and its ability to resist treatment, so we can learn more about why some cancers don’t respond to drugs and find better ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 9, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $531,759 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262874-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with lung cancer or other cancers where APOBEC3A is implicated in treatment resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have cancers associated with APOBEC3A activity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the APOBEC3A enzyme in cancer evolution and its contribution to resistance against targeted cancer therapies. By using lung cancer cell models, the study aims to explore how the expression of APOBEC3A changes during treatment and how it leads to mutations that make cancer cells resistant to drugs. The researchers will employ advanced techniques like CRISPR to eliminate APOBEC3A and observe the effects on drug resistance. Additionally, they will analyze the genomic and proteomic targets of this enzyme to better understand its impact on cancer progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for overcoming drug resistance in cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting similar mechanisms in cancer evolution can lead to significant advancements in treatment strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lawrence, Michael S — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lawrence, Michael S
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.