Understanding how certain cancer cells maintain their growth and survival mechanisms.
Co-Regulation of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres and Chromatin Dynamics in ATRX-DAXX deficient cancer cells
This study is looking at how certain cancer cells manage to keep growing even without some important proteins, focusing on a protein called HIRA that helps them maintain their structure and extend their telomeres; the goal is to find new ways to treat aggressive cancers that use these tricks to survive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11072984 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how cancer cells that lack specific chromatin remodeling proteins can still grow and survive by using alternative mechanisms to extend their telomeres. The study focuses on the role of a protein called HIRA, which becomes crucial for these cancer cells to maintain their chromatin structure and continue dividing. By exploring the interactions between chromatin dynamics and telomere elongation, the research aims to uncover potential vulnerabilities in these cancer cells that could be targeted for treatment. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new therapeutic strategies for aggressive cancers reliant on these mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with cancers characterized by ATRX-DAXX deficiencies and reliance on the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres pathway.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not involve ATRX-DAXX mutations or the ALT pathway may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for patients with aggressive cancers that utilize alternative telomere lengthening mechanisms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting telomere maintenance mechanisms in cancer, suggesting that this approach may yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'sullivan, Roderick — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: O'sullivan, Roderick
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 below.