Understanding how MEK inhibitors may harm the heart in some breast cancer patients
Official title: Defining the role of mitochondrial injury in MEK inhibitor cardiotoxicity
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11386423 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer drug (MEK inhibitor Trametinib) that helps treat tumors might cause heart problems in some people, and this study will look at why that happens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,288 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165294-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386423 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a clinical trial yet; results will inform future trials and patient care in breast cancer where MEK inhibitors are used.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart-related risks or those not treated with trametinib may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how trametinib affects heart cells and mitochondrial function, using mouse hearts and isolated heart cells to observe changes in energy production and inflammation. They aim to uncover the mechanisms that lead to drug-associated heart muscle weakness and reversible dysfunction. The project will examine gene activity related to mitochondria and immune responses to understand why some patients develop cardiotoxicity. Findings could guide safer use of MEK inhibitors in patients and identify targets to prevent heart damage. The work builds on preliminary results showing altered heart metabolism after trametinib exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to safer treatment strategies and potentially prevent or lessen heart problems in patients treated with MEK inhibitors.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary mouse data suggest trametinib can alter heart metabolism, but the exact mechanism in humans remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jensen, Brian C — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Jensen, Brian C
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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.