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Threading the needle: Development of Novel MR Methods for Effective Control of an Emerging Lipophilic Tumor Therapy

Award Number: R01CA308814
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/18/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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Threading the needle: Development of Novel MR Methods for Effective Control of an Emerging Lipophilic Tumor Therapy - Project Summary/ Abstract. Generally, the accepted goal of cancer treatments is the eradication of cancer cells, which in itself will lead to cure. While this has been an effective strategy in some restricted instances, most adult solid cancers remain very difficult to cure and some, like the very malignant glioblastoma, remain exceedingly resistant to this approach despite years of dedicated research. We have been exploring strategies using a different framework of cancer development in which tumors arise as a maladaptive wound response that predicts that cure will not be possible without also focusing on normal tissue healing processes, i.e., tumor cell eradication is not enough. We have identified a prototypical agent, BPM31510, that possesses many of the features that fulfill the necessary requirements for inhibiting cancer while sparing noncancer tissue. This drug, which is composed of CoQ10 incorporated into a lipid nanoemulsion, enables delivery of supraphysiological doses of the highly hydrophobic CoQ10, orders of magnitude greater than are possible with CoQ10 alone. Based on data that is described within, we have demonstrated in vitro that this compound has marked differential effects on glioma cells relative to non-tumor cells and that we can reliably eradicate cancer cells without impeding normal cell growth; we’ve also identified that this effect is exquisitely dose dependent. Our in vivo studies also indicate that we can cure orthotopic glioma implants when this drug is used as a single agent at the correct dose. Our findings could therefore represent a transformative approach to cancer—not only for glioblastoma, but since it is genetically “agnostic”, to other cancers as well. However, a major hurdle in moving towards clinical translation is the lack of an appropriate real time measurement of response, i.e., tumors often grow before they respond, complicating assessment using standard anatomic criteria such as RANO or RECIST. Interestingly, major changes can be identified using noninvasive MR techniques such as proton MRS and deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) even when MR imaging shows tumor growth, offering an alternative way to measure treatment efficacy. This highly technical proposal, which arises through a longstanding collaboration between a clinical neurooncologist and MRI/MRS engineering group, will offer a roadmap for optimizing three non-invasive imaging techniques, one in general use (proton MRS), one being explored for its clinical utilization (DMI) and one still in experimental development (PROXYL based redox imaging) as measurement tools for this treatment strategy. With their successful completion, our results will be immediately translatable to the clinic and could serve to assess any therapies that use this novel anticancer strategy.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $593,557 )
2026	2026	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research	000	1	3/18/2026	NEW	$593,557
														Subtotal = $593,557

Grand Total All Awards = $593,557

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Threading the needle: Development of Novel MR Methods for Effective Control of an Emerging Lipophilic Tumor Therapy

Award Number: R01CA308814

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/18/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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