Understanding how bone cancer cells rely on certain pathways to grow in childhood osteosarcoma
Official title: Probing the mechanisms of dependency underlying skeletal genetic pathways of p53 and Notch in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11592245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how specific cancer-related pathways in bone-forming cells drive osteosarcoma in children, with the aim of finding better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $429,515 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA300681-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592245 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young people with osteosarcoma or at risk due to related genetic factors may benefit from future therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with osteosarcoma not involving the studied pathways or whose cancer is driven by different mechanisms may not see benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers use mouse models of osteosarcoma and human osteosarcoma cells to map the key genes and pathways that osteoblasts rely on as they become cancerous. The project builds on prior work showing p53 and Rb mutations as major drivers and seeks to validate targets that could be treated in patients. By understanding how these cancer-dependent skeletal pathways control proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis, the team hopes to identify new therapeutic strategies. The work leverages advanced mouse models that resemble human disease to test potential interventions. If successful, findings could point to new ways to halt progression and improve outcomes for children with osteosarcoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: New targets and strategies could lead to more effective treatments for pediatric osteosarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in mouse and human cells show promising links between cancer-dependent pathways and osteosarcoma progression, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tao, Jianning — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tao, Jianning
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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.