# Exosomes in Predicting Response to Chemotherapy in Metastatic Endometrial Carcinoma

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $216,227

## Abstract

Exosomes in Predicting Response to Chemotherapy in Metastatic Endometrial Carcinoma
Abstract: Endometrial carcinoma represents the most common gynecologic malignancy in the US affecting
60,000 women annually. Early stage cancers are curable, but the treatment of metastatic disease remains
challenging. The most active standard therapy is a platinum-taxane combination which yields response rates
of 55-60%. Despite this, drug resistance develops readily with median time to survival of only six to eight
months. The rapid progression and lack of therapeutic response to both cytotoxic and targeted therapy
represent treatment challenges unique to this highly lethal disease state and underscore the need for
identification of molecular targets of drug resistance.
Molecular alterations in tumor biology that develop during the course of chemotherapy, particularly those that
predict treatment failure, remain unknown. Alterations in the protein expression unique to cancers are
implicated in tumorigenesis and drug resistance across malignancies. Changes in non-coding RNA and
downstream protein products necessary for cellular proliferation and differentiation develop under the stress of
chemotherapy in many solid tumors. Limited knowledge of the molecular derangements in advanced
endometrial cancer exist at present. Identification of molecular signatures unique to drug resistant endometrial
cancer may facilitate identification of novel therapeutic targets to predict and/or reverse resistance to
chemotherapy.
Exosomes derived from tumor cell membranes serve as transport vehicles for a variety of tumor derived
products including DNA, coding and non-coding RNA and proteins. Exosomes can be identified in peripheral
body fluids in large quantities and act at distant sites to facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. They bear direct
resemblance to the tumor cells or origin and reflect ongoing alterations in the tumor cell environment. As such,
they represent potential peripheral biomarkers of disease and drug resistance. We hypothesize that exosome-
derived miRNA signatures will reveal molecular mechanisms of drug-resistance in endometrial cancer and that
the isolation of these exosomes in the peripheral blood of patients undergoing chemotherapy will provide
insight into the therapeutic targets critical to overcoming chemotherapy resistance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017280
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103639-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Moxley
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $216,227
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017280

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017280, Exosomes in Predicting Response to Chemotherapy in Metastatic Endometrial Carcinoma (5P20GM103639-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017280. Licensed CC0.

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