Why some lung and esophageal cancers stop responding to radiation
Acquired Resistance to Therapy and Iron (ARTI) Center
Testing whether cancer cells' ability to avoid an iron-linked form of cell death (ferroptosis) makes radiation less effective and whether new drugs can help radiation work better for people with lung or esophageal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172401 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center studies why locally advanced lung and esophageal cancers often become resistant to radiation by looking at a form of iron-dependent cell death called ferroptosis. Researchers will analyze tumor samples from patients and use lab and animal models to see if tumors that evade ferroptosis are the ones that fail radiation. They will also test new therapies in preclinical models to try to re-sensitize tumors to radiation by inducing ferroptosis. The center includes a shared molecular imaging core to help track tumor responses and translate findings toward patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with locally advanced lung or esophageal cancer, especially those receiving or scheduled for radiation therapy or willing to provide tumor samples, would be the best fit.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancers not treated with radiation, cancers outside the lung or esophagus, or those unable to give tissue samples may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify patients at high risk of radiation failure and lead to treatments that make radiation more effective.
How similar studies have performed: Inducing ferroptosis is a relatively new approach with encouraging preclinical results, but it remains early and has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gan, Boyi — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Gan, Boyi
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.