Project title: Tumor cell surface targeting of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas
Carl Gay, MD, PhD University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Status: Active
- Year(s): 2024
- Grant Type: Investigator
- Research Type: Translational
- Primary Tumor Site: Extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma
- Area of Inquiry: Treatment resistance in high-grade NECs
Description
What critical problem/question will researchers try to answer?
For far too long, drug development for neuroendocrine carcinomas has attempted to adapt approaches from non-neuroendocrine carcinomas from the same tumor site. Instead, we propose a successful path toward drug development would focus on features unique to neuroendocrine carcinomas and that these features can serve as vulnerabilities for a host of similar cancers.
Why is this important?
Strategies aimed at attacking proteins that are unique to neuroendocrine carcinomas offer the ability to deliver chemotherapy, radiation, or activate the immune system in a personalized fashion with the promise of deeper and more durable response rates.
What will the researchers do?
We will select proteins unique to the surface of neuroendocrine carcinoma cells and develop antibodies against them that can be used as an anchor for therapeutic development.
How might this improve treatment of neuroendocrine cancer?
We are already witnessing unprecedented response rates in neuroendocrine carcinomas with tailored cell surface protein-targeting therapies. Our project aims to diversify these options while also informing the optimal selection among the various available options.
What is the next step?
In the short-term, the next step is to validate these new targets in model systems such as cell lines and mice. In the long-term, we aim to partner with drug development partners to create patient-ready drugs from these agents.
Additional Details
- City: Houston
- State: Texas
- Country: United States
- Grant Duration: 2 years
- Sponsor: The Martha O’Donnell Pagel Fund for Rare Cancer Research
DISCLAIMER
NETRF funds laboratory research to understand the development of neuroendocrine tumors and translational research to explore new concepts in treatment. Research grant descriptions and research updates from NETRF are not intended to serve as medical advice. It can take years for research discoveries to be fully validated and approved for patient care. Always consult your health care providers about your treatment options.