Understanding how high levels of DNA building blocks affect cancer cell growth
Official title: Characterizing the role of Elevated dNTP pools in sensitizing the replisome
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10858899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how high levels of DNA building blocks in cells might cause mistakes when DNA is copied, which could lead to cancer, and it aims to find new ways to target cancer cells that use these high levels to grow quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $478,399 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM154101-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10858899 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with cancers characterized by high mutation rates or those undergoing treatment that affects DNA replication.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, low-mutation cancers or those not undergoing any treatment affecting DNA replication may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how elevated levels of deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), the building blocks of DNA, impact the accuracy of DNA replication in cells. By examining how these elevated dNTP pools can lead to increased mutation rates and potentially promote cancer, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind cancer cell proliferation. The approach involves analyzing the behavior of the replisome, the complex responsible for DNA synthesis, under different dNTP conditions. This could help identify new strategies for targeting cancer cells that rely on these elevated dNTP levels for their rapid growth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that target cancer cells by disrupting their DNA replication processes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that manipulating dNTP levels can influence DNA replication fidelity, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights into cancer biology.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Surtees, Jennifer Anne — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Surtees, Jennifer Anne
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.