Understanding why some cancers become resistant to Ras-targeting medicines
De novo designed Ras tools to uncover the mechanisms underlying drug resistance
This research aims to discover why certain cancers with a specific gene mutation, called Ras, stop responding to treatments that target this mutation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11359890 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many cancers are driven by changes in a protein called Ras, and new medicines have been developed to block these altered Ras proteins. However, patients often find that their cancer eventually becomes resistant to these treatments, and the cancer starts growing again. This project will create new ways to look closely at cancer cells to understand how they manage to bypass the medicine and reactivate the Ras signaling that fuels their growth. By understanding these resistance mechanisms, we hope to find new strategies to keep the treatments working longer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for future patients with Ras-mutated cancers, especially those who experience their cancer becoming resistant to current Ras-targeting therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers do not have Ras mutations or who respond well to existing treatments without developing resistance may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment strategies that prevent or overcome drug resistance in patients with Ras-mutated cancers.
How similar studies have performed: While Ras inhibitors have shown initial success in patients, the problem of drug resistance is common, and this research uses novel tools to specifically uncover these resistance mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jason — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jason
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 below.