NIH-funded research R01 grant

Understanding how small cell lung cancer becomes resistant to treatment

Official title: Acquired Cross-Resistance through MYC Amplification in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11050735 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at why small cell lung cancer sometimes doesn't respond to treatment, using samples from patients to find out how the cancer changes after chemotherapy, with the hope of discovering better ways to help people fight this tough disease.

More Lung Cancer research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project startJanuary 1, 2025
Project endDecember 31, 2029
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$642,429
NIH project number1R01CA286912-01A1
Project IDNIH-11050735 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with small cell lung cancer who have undergone initial chemotherapy treatment.

Less likely to help

Patients with small cell lung cancer who have not received any prior treatment may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the mechanisms behind treatment resistance in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a highly aggressive cancer with poor survival rates. By using patient-derived xenograft models, the study aims to replicate patient responses to various chemotherapy regimens and identify patterns of cross-resistance that occur after initial treatment. The approach involves analyzing tumor samples from patients before and after treatment to understand how resistance develops and to explore potential new therapies that could overcome this challenge.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment strategies for small cell lung cancer, improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that patient-derived models can effectively mimic clinical outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights into treatment resistance.

Where this research is happening

  • Ut Southwestern Medical Center
    Dallas, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Drapkin, Benjamin J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Drapkin, Benjamin J

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.