# Texas EXperimental Cancer Therapeutics Network - TEX CTN

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $5,697,447

## 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:** 9932629
- **Project number:** 2UM1CA186688-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** S. Gail Eckhardt
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $5,697,447
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-03-14 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932629

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932629, Texas EXperimental Cancer Therapeutics Network - TEX CTN (2UM1CA186688-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932629. Licensed CC0.

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