# Texas EXperimental Cancer Therapeutics Network - TEX CTN

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2024 · $1,679,285

## Abstract

Project Summary
The Texas Experimental Cancer Therapeutic Network (TEX-CTN) is comprised of the University 
of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UT MDACC; Lead Academic Organization, LAO), the UT 
Health San Antonio Cancer Center (UT Health SA; Affiliate Organization, AO), the UT at Austin 
(UTA); Affiliate Organization, AO) and the UT Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB; Affiliate 
Organization, AO). We propose to advance the development of novel therapeutics using precision 
oncology approaches and rationally designed clinical trials. The long-term objective is to provide 
the ETCTN with the joint expertise of the faculty from the four member institutions, expediting 
translating preclinical discoveries to the clinic, and to provide significant scientific and 
administrative leadership to the ETCTN. Our hypothesis for the optimal development of novel 
targeted agents includes testing within a molecularly profiled population, integrating 
pharmacodynamics markers in early clinical trials and programmatic assessment of predictors of 
intrinsic sensitivity/resistance and mechanisms of acquired resistance. We are proposing to 
achieve these goals through the following five specific aims: 1) To study, in an efficient, systematic 
and collaborative manner, the safety and clinical activity of new agents or hypothesis-driven novel 
combinations. 2) To molecularly profile tumors and patients (host tissues), to optimize selection 
of potentially relevant therapies based on the molecular aberrations identified in the tumor and 
immune environment, where appropriate. 3) To develop and validate clinically relevant of 
predictors and pharmacodynamic markers of response. 4) To mentor early career faculty, trainees 
and research personnel in the leadership, conduct, analysis, and reporting of ETCTN trials. 5) To 
provide scientific and administrative leadership within ETCTN. The TEX-CTN will unite four 
University of Texas institutions to facilitate access to novel therapies and biomarker-driven trials 
across the network, for patients with rare as well as common tumors, as well as patients from 
underserved minority populations. Our team consists of internationally recognized leaders of 
Phase I and II trials, multidisciplinary disease experts, interventional radiologists, translational 
pathologists, and diagnostic radiologists. TEX-CTN is well poised to attain a new paradigm for 
early experimental therapeutic clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10851801
- **Project number:** 5UM1CA186688-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna Capasso
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,679,285
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-03-14 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10851801

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10851801, Texas EXperimental Cancer Therapeutics Network - TEX CTN (5UM1CA186688-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10851801. Licensed CC0.

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