Understanding how cancer cells become resistant to treatment
Official title: A network approach to interrogate cellular plasticity and drug resistance in cancer
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11113933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain skin cancers, called squamous cell carcinomas, become resistant to treatment, using a special mouse model to understand how the cancer cells change and survive, with the hope of finding better ways to fight these tough tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $679,232 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285426-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11113933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas who have experienced treatment resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-squamous cell carcinomas or those who have not undergone any form of cancer treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind drug resistance in cancer, particularly focusing on squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). By using a specialized mouse model that mimics human cancer, the team will analyze how tumor cells adapt and survive despite treatment efforts. The study employs advanced techniques like single-cell analysis to explore the genetic changes in tumors before and during therapies. The goal is to identify new strategies to target these resistant cancer cells effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with drug-resistant cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding drug resistance in cancer, but this approach using a specific mouse model is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akhurst, Rosemary J — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Akhurst, Rosemary 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.