Understanding how cancer cells use pyrimidines for growth and therapy response
Official title: Functional Relevance of Pyrimidine Sensing and Response Pathways in Tumor Metabolism and Cancer Therapy
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11091675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells use certain nutrients to grow and respond to treatments, with the goal of finding new ways to target those cancer cells more effectively while keeping healthy cells safe, which could lead to better treatments with fewer side effects for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $544,658 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA286141-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers that are sensitive to pyrimidine metabolism alterations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those whose cancers do not involve pyrimidine metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of pyrimidine metabolism in cancer cells and how it affects their growth and response to treatment. By exploring the mechanisms that cancer cells use to sense and respond to pyrimidine levels, the study aims to develop strategies that can selectively target cancer cells while minimizing harm to normal and immune cells. The researchers will engineer specific enzymes and assess their impact on cancer cell sensitivity to existing anti-cancer drugs. This approach could lead to more effective therapies with fewer side effects for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that specifically target tumor cells while protecting healthy cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting nucleotide metabolism in cancer therapy, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Possemato, Richard Lewis — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Possemato, Richard Lewis
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.