# Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE

> **NIH NIH P50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $194,375

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE brings together interactive research teams from three institutions to
create a dynamic translational research program aimed at developing and testing new strategies to prevent
and treat endometrial cancer. This SPORE includes three research projects; an administrative core; a
biostatistics and bioinformatics core; a biospecimens, metabolomics, and pathology core; and developmental
research and career enhancement programs. The three projects, chosen and refined with extensive input from
our internal and external advisory boards, are designed to have significant potential to change clinical practice
within five years. Project 1: HSPA Proteins in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Therapy. Project 2:
Inhibiting AXL to Improve Treatment Response in Endometrial Cancer. Project 3: Improving Primary
Prevention and Uterine Preservation in Premenopausal Women with Obesity and Endometrial Hyperplasia.
Projects 1 and 2 are clinical/translational projects, whereas Project 3 is an early detection, prevention, or
population science project. All three projects include clinical trials and represent carefully chosen marriages
between selected endometrial cancer research priorities and the strengths of Washington University in St.
Louis and our collaborators at the University of New Mexico and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center. The overall aims of our SPORE are to 1) Test promising new therapies to treat or prevent endometrial
cancer; 2) Elucidate the key biologic processes that drive endometrial cancer and develop novel biomarkers to
predict development of endometrial cancer and response to therapies; 3) Leverage and enhance capacities of
shared research resources; 4) Recruit and mentor new investigators and support innovative ideas in
translational endometrial cancer research; 5) Facilitate collaboration of those interested in endometrial cancer
research; and 6) Ensure equitable enrollment in clinical trials and involvement of diverse community members
and investigators in research. In completing the work proposed here, we will test three new strategies to
prevent or treat endometrial cancer. Future work can be directed at moving the most promising treatment
approaches into larger trials. Additionally, we will obtain an unprecedented level of molecular, cellular,
immunologic, and metabolomic detail regarding endometrial cancer and response to treatment, which will likely
lead to development of additional novel clinical trials. Finally, by developing new ideas, investigators, and
collaborations, we will expand the breadth and depth of research aimed at treating or preventing endometrial
cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11128242
- **Project number:** 3P50CA265793-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DORIS Mangiaracina BENBROOK
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $194,375
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-08-23 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11128242

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11128242, Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE (3P50CA265793-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11128242. Licensed CC0.

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