Understanding how nerve signaling affects chemotherapy resistance in head and neck cancer
Official title: Defining the role of KEAP/NRF2 signaling dysregulation and sensory nerve reprograming during acquisition of cisplatin resistance and metastasis in HNSCC
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-10917410 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some head and neck cancer patients don’t respond well to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug, and aims to find new ways to help these patients get better treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $262,103 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274321-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10917410 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are undergoing cisplatin treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with head and neck cancers that do not respond to cisplatin or those who are not receiving this treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind why some head and neck cancer patients become resistant to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug. By studying various cancer cell lines, the researchers aim to identify changes in nerve signaling and specific cellular pathways that contribute to this resistance. They are particularly focused on the Nrf2 pathway, which appears to play a crucial role in how cancer cells adapt to treatment. The goal is to find new ways to overcome this resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin in treating head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting cellular pathways like Nrf2 can be effective in overcoming drug resistance in cancer, suggesting a promising avenue for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Osman, Abdullah Ali — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Osman, Abdullah Ali
Related research
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Understanding why some head and neck cancers stop responding to cisplatin and spread
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How a cell stress pathway and nerve changes cause cisplatin resistance and spread in head and neck cancer
Scientists are targeting the NRF2 stress pathway and tumor-associated nerve changes to try to overcome cisplatin resistance in people with head and neck cancer.
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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.