Understanding how the retinoblastoma protein is controlled in cancer cells
Official title: Regulation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor by the ubiquitin-proteasome system
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10825894 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein that helps prevent cancer, called Rb, is controlled in breast cancer, especially for patients who are being treated with specific medications, and it hopes to find better ways to make these treatments work more effectively for those with hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship 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 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 14, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $40,188 |
| NIH project number | 1F31CA288070-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10825894 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who are being treated with Cdk4/6 inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those not receiving Cdk4/6 inhibitors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the regulation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, a crucial tumor suppressor that helps control cell growth and division. The study focuses on how the ubiquitin-proteasome system affects Rb levels, particularly in the context of breast cancer treatment with Cdk4/6 inhibitors. By exploring the mechanisms that lead to resistance against these inhibitors, the research aims to identify new strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness for patients. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved therapies for hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for breast cancer patients who currently face resistance to existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system to enhance cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aponte, Amy — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Aponte, Amy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how premalignant retinoblastoma lesions form and progress in children
Researchers are studying how early retinal lesions in kids with RB1 loss become malignant, with the goal of finding ways to prevent retinoblastoma progression.
-
Aqueous humor liquid biopsy to guide prognosis and monitoring in children with retinoblastoma
A liquid test using a small amount of eye fluid could reveal important tumor details to help predict how retinoblastoma in young children will behave and how well treatment is working.
-
Parent-of-Origin Effects in Retinoblastoma: Epigenetic Drivers of Tumor Risk and Progression
A study using long-read DNA sequencing to understand how the parent of origin of RB1 gene variants affects retinoblastoma risk and progression, with potential to guide personalized monitoring and treatment.
-
Retinoblastoma eye-sparing treatment for young children
A new, targeted eye treatment for young children with retinoblastoma aims to save eyes and reduce radiation exposure by delivering medicine directly into the eye.
-
How early retinal changes lead to retinoblastoma
This project looks at how early abnormal cells in the retina form and later turn into retinoblastoma in children, using lab-grown retinal tissue.
-
A tiny eye-fluid test to predict and track retinoblastoma in young children
This project uses a very small sample of eye fluid to look for tumor DNA that could help predict how retinoblastoma will behave and to follow treatment in children.
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.