Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco a Project Grant of $658,722 under the Cancer Treatment Research program (CFDA 93.395) on March 12, 2026, with a completion date of February 28, 2031. The award supports fundamental research to elucidate the mechanisms by which telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations drive tumor cell immortality across multiple cancer types. Specifically, the research investigates how the GA-binding protein (GABP) complex, particularly the B1L heterotetramer configuration, activates mutant TERT promoters in cancer cells and examines whether disrupting this regulatory pathway can reverse immortality phenotypes and inhibit tumor growth.

The research deliverables include mechanistic characterization of GABP-mediated TERT activation across 16 cancer types and examination of compensatory regulatory networks involving alternative GABP isoforms (B1S dimer and B2 tetramer). The project is designed to develop experimental tools and validate therapeutic strategies targeting common GABP complex elements to suppress telomerase reactivation. Through this five-year initiative, the funded research aims to provide fundamental insights and potential therapeutic targets applicable across multiple cancer malignancies, directly supporting the NCI's Cancer Treatment Research program objectives to develop improved cancer treatment methods and control mechanisms.