Why some bladder cancers stop responding to platinum chemotherapy
Dissecting Integrated Cellular Programs Promoting Platinum Resistance and Progression in Bladder Cancer
['FUNDING_R01'] · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · NIH-11296847
This project looks at how tumor cells and immune cells in muscle-invasive bladder cancer change to make platinum chemotherapy less effective, aiming to help people with advanced bladder cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DANA-FARBER CANCER INST (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11296847 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The research team will analyze tumor samples from people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer using single-cell and spatial profiling to see how individual cells and their neighborhoods change with platinum treatment. They will use advanced lab models and animal experiments to test how tumor cell cycle and DNA repair programs affect drug response. The team will study how macrophages (a type of immune cell) are reprogrammed by platinum drugs and how tumor cells and macrophages communicate to drive resistance. Computational tools that trace tumor evolution will link patient data, lab models, and spatial maps to identify key mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer who are receiving or have received platinum chemotherapy and can provide tumor tissue or other samples.
Not a fit: People with early non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer or those never treated with platinum chemotherapy are unlikely to be included or benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to tests that predict who will benefit from platinum drugs and suggest new ways to overcome resistance to improve outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked DNA repair defects and immune changes to platinum resistance, but combining single-cell and spatial profiling with new lab models to map tumor–immune interactions is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- DANA-FARBER CANCER INST — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: VAN ALLEN, ELIEZER M — DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- Study coordinator: VAN ALLEN, ELIEZER M
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.
Conditions: Bladder Cancer, Cancer Model