Understanding how cancers resist drugs that target ribosome production
Official title: Translation Rewiring Underlines Drug Resistance to Lethal Targeted Ribosome Biogenesis Therapeutics in Cancer
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11457141 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project tests why certain cancers resist a new type of drug that blocks ribosome production, with scientists at the University of Maryland Baltimore looking for clues to improve therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA279786-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457141 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers that rely on high ribosome production and may be treated with Pol I inhibitors could benefit from improved strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not depend on Pol I–driven ribosome biogenesis or do not activate identified resistance pathways may see little benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies why cancers become resistant to a new ribosome biogenesis inhibitor (BMH-21) by looking at the role of the mTOR pathway. Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to identify genes that help tumors survive when Pol I transcription is blocked. The work aims to reveal how cancer cells switch off certain protein-making pathways to endure therapy, with the goal of guiding future treatments. The study involves human cancer cell lines and genetic screening to pinpoint resistance mechanisms that could be targeted in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more effective cancer therapies by overcoming resistance to ribosome biogenesis inhibitors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that resistance to ribosome biogenesis inhibitors can involve mTOR-related pathways, but this study investigates a CRISPR-based resistance mechanism in colorectal cancer cells.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fan, Wenjun — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Fan, Wenjun
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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.