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Leveraging the GTP Biosynthetic Pathway for Anti-Tumor Therapies

Award Number: R37CA248018
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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Leveraging the GTP Biosynthetic Pathway for Anti-Tumor Therapies - PROJECT ABSTRACT/SUMMARY (From the Parent Grant) Invasion is one of the most detrimental features of all cancers, including breast cancer, as it allows cells to escape the primary site and form metastases at distant organs. Despite progress in prevention and early lesions detection, the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer is still extremely high. This is especially true for patients presenting with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC, characterized by lack of expression of ER, PR, and Her2), which is the most aggressive and deadliest subtype of breast cancer and the one that so far lack specific targets for therapeutic intervention. Understanding the mechanisms that facilitate the invasion of tumor cells will enable us to design more efficient therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce metastasis. Our group has established a fundamental connection between GTP metabolism and tumor cell invasiveness; we have unveiled GTP and its metabolic enzymes (GME) as key players in tumor progression and metastatic potential. We have developed unique fluorescent reporters for intracellular GTP that have allowed us to determine that, in live cells, the intracellular GTP distribution is not uniform, and brought forward the hypothesis that local concentration of GTP can influence GTP-dependent processes. In particular, we have previously shown that genetic or pharmacological modulation of the GTP metabolic pathway deeply affected the activation status of small GTPases of the RHO-family and, with it, the tumor cells' invasive capability. Thus, in Aim 1 we will explore a novel mechanism of G-proteins activation based on GME subcellular localization. Our preliminary results showed that the rate-limiting enzyme for GTP de novo production, inositol monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2) enriches at cell membrane sites that are critical for cell migration and invasion (namely focal adhesion, FA, and invadopodia). The role of IMPDH2 at these sites is virtually uncharacterized. Thus, in Aim 2 we will assess the catalytic and structural role of IMPDH2 in FA and invadopodia formation, as well as in focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-directed oncogenic motility. The understanding of GTP metabolic enzymes transcriptional regulation is far from complete. Identification of transcriptional master regulators of the GTP biosynthetic pathway that could be pharmacologically targeted would offer a more efficient way of suppressing this pathway. Our preliminary results suggest that Kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) play antagonistic roles in the transcriptional regulation of GTP metabolic enzymes, with KLF9 suppressing, whereas AHR inducing GTP production. Thus, in Aim 3 we will elucidate this regulation and explore pharmacological treatments to regulate the activity of these transcription factors.


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 = $396,881 )
2026	2026	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	003	6	4/28/2026	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$396,881
2026	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	002	5	4/16/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2026	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	5	12/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2026	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	5	4/14/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $396,881

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $383,545 )
2025	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	5	6/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$38,354
2025	2025	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	5	11/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$345,191
														Subtotal = $383,545

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $364,385 )
2024	2024	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM & CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	4	11/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$345,207
2024	2024	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	665 ELM ST	BUFFALO	NY	14203	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	4	4/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$19,178
														Subtotal = $364,385

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $375,907 )
2023	2023	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM AND CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	3	11/21/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$345,221
2023	2023	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM & CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	3	3/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$30,686
														Subtotal = $375,907

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $385,173 )
2022	2022	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM AND CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	2	11/15/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$346,655
2022	2022	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM AND CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	001	2	5/10/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$38,518
														Subtotal = $385,173

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $397,669 )
2021	2021	HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.	ELM AND CARLTON ST	BUFFALO	NY	14263	ERIE	USA	Cancer Biology Research	000	1	12/10/2020	NEW	$397,669
														Subtotal = $397,669

Grand Total All Awards = $2,303,560

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Leveraging the GTP Biosynthetic Pathway for Anti-Tumor Therapies

Award Number: R37CA248018

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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