Using O'PROTAC degraders to target the KSHV LANA protein
Development of O’PROTACs-based degraders targeting an oncogenic viral protein
Researchers are making small molecules called O'PROTACs that can destroy a viral protein (LANA) that helps KSHV-linked cancers grow, with the goal of helping people with KSHV-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma or primary effusion lymphoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) or primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), this project is working on a new kind of drug that aims to remove a viral protein the cancers need to survive. Scientists will design O'PROTAC degraders that bind the KSHV-encoded LANA protein and trigger its destruction. They will test these molecules in lab-grown KSHV-positive tumor cells and in animal models to see if the tumors shrink or stop growing. Results could guide future human therapies for immunocompromised patients with KSHV-driven tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with KSHV-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma or primary effusion lymphoma, especially those who are immunocompromised or living with HIV, would be the most relevant patient group.
Not a fit: Because this is early-stage laboratory and animal research, people without KSHV-related cancers or those needing immediate clinical treatment should not expect direct personal benefit now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that shrink or block the growth of KSHV-driven tumors in immunocompromised patients.
How similar studies have performed: PROTAC-style protein degraders have shown promise in preclinical cancer studies, but applying O'PROTACs specifically to degrade the KSHV LANA oncoprotein is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Little Rock, United States
- Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis — Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dai, Lu — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Dai, Lu
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.