Why ovarian cancer can come back after chemotherapy — the role of NF-kB signaling
Alternative NF-kB activation in post-chemotherapy setting to elucidate novel mechanisms of ovarian cancer relapse
Researchers are looking at whether signals called alternative NF-kB, triggered after chemotherapy, help drug-resistant tumor-initiating cells survive and cause ovarian cancer to return in women treated for ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11212112 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on tumor-initiating cells (TICs), a small group of drug-resistant cancer cells that may drive relapse after chemotherapy. The team will examine how chemotherapy changes the tumor environment to release signals like TWEAK that activate alternative NF-kB in cancer cells. Using lab models, molecular tools including CRISPR, and human tumor samples, they will turn genes on and off to find which pathways let TICs survive and regrow tumors. The work aims to identify targets that could be blocked to reduce the chance of ovarian cancer coming back.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who have had ovarian cancer and completed cytotoxic chemotherapy, especially those at high risk of relapse, would be most relevant for related trials or tissue donation.
Not a fit: People without ovarian cancer, or whose disease relapse is driven by unrelated mechanisms, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new therapies that prevent relapse by blocking NF-kB–driven survival pathways in ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical lab studies, including the investigators' prior work, support a role for alternative NF-kB in ovarian cancer stem-like cells, but clinical treatments targeting this pathway are still experimental.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: House, Carrie Danielle — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: House, Carrie Danielle
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.