Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is extending its research partnership with Eli Lilly and Co. for another year.

The extension, announced Tuesday, calls for Lawrence-based Deciphera to continue its oncology collaboration with Lilly, an arrangement that began in late 2008 and has led Deciphera to meet a discovery milestone for developing advanced molecules. Other milestones would be reached if the collaboration produced a specific drug candidate and sent it into clinical trials.

Deciphera’s efforts aim for preventing the growth and spread of cancer by focusing on kinase “switches” that control signals within cells. The companies say Deciphera’s work has identified molecules that “potently inhibit” a mutation responsible for about 60 percent of human melanoma.

“This unique class of molecules has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for cancer patients, and we look forward to the identification of a development candidate with Deciphera during this research extension,” said Jonathan Yingling, Lilly’s vice president for oncology drug discovery, in a statement.

Deciphera will receive “full-time equivalent support” during the yearlong extension, said Dan Flynn, Deciphera’s CEO.

Under terms of the original agreement, Deciphera was in line to receive up to $130 million in capital for reaching development, regulatory and sales milestones in each of four areas.

Deciphera came to Lawrence in 2003, a year after being founded by Flynn and a business partner in Cambridge, Mass. The company now is based at upstairs 643 Mass., where it also has adjacent lab space secured last year.