Understanding how liver conditions affect uveal melanoma spread
Official title: Exploiting oxidative stress response in uveal melanoma liver metastases
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11061803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how uveal melanoma, a serious eye cancer that can spread to the liver, grows in that environment, with the hope of finding new treatments to help patients live longer and better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $470,236 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282901-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with uveal melanoma who are at risk of liver metastasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with uveal melanoma that has not metastasized or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on uveal melanoma, a severe eye cancer that often spreads to the liver, leading to poor outcomes for patients. The team aims to explore how the liver environment influences the growth of these cancer cells and to identify new treatment strategies. By using advanced laboratory techniques, including co-culturing liver tissues with cancer cells, they will investigate the mechanisms that make these metastases resistant to current therapies. The goal is to find ways to make these cancer cells more susceptible to treatment, potentially improving patient survival rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that significantly improve survival rates for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting cancer cell vulnerabilities, suggesting that this approach could yield significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartsough, Edward — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Hartsough, Edward
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting stress defenses in eye melanoma that spreads to the liver
Researchers are working to weaken tumor cells' defenses against oxidative damage so liver metastases from uveal (eye) melanoma in adults become more vulnerable to treatment.
-
Targeting serotonin receptors to boost a cancer cell weakness in uveal melanoma
A small funding project tests whether blocking the serotonin HTR2B receptor can weaken mutant GNAQ/GNA11-driven uveal melanoma cells to help fight metastatic eye cancer.
-
Ablating Liver Metastases with SBRT to Boost Immunotherapy in Melanoma
Aims to see if targeted liver radiation plus two immunotherapy drugs helps people with melanoma that has spread to the liver.
-
Dual mRNA therapeutics aimed at liver metastasis from uveal melanoma
A new approach uses two mRNA-based therapies designed to target liver metastases in adults with uveal melanoma.
-
Improving treatment response in uveal melanoma by targeting Syk with new translational models
A Mayo Clinic team is exploring whether blocking the Syk protein can make uveal melanoma more responsive to PARP inhibitors in patients who have this eye cancer that often spreads.
-
How uveal melanoma cells send signals that help them spread
This project follows adults with uveal melanoma and tracks signals in eye fluid and blood to find early signs that the cancer may be spreading.
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.