Blocking kidney cancer's altered sugar use (the Warburg effect)
Official title: Targeting the Warburg Effect in Kidney Cancer
Funded at Syracuse VA Medical Center · NIH-11123091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether stopping how kidney tumors use sugar for energy can slow or kill renal cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syracuse VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006271-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with clear cell renal cell carcinoma, especially those with advanced or treatment-resistant tumors, are most likely to benefit from therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-clear-cell kidney cancers, early-stage tumors already removed surgically, or tumors that do not rely on glycolysis may not benefit.
What this research studies
The team is studying how clear cell kidney tumors rely on a sugar-burning process called aerobic glycolysis to grow. In the lab they will use kidney cancer cell lines and biochemical tests to find molecules that interrupt this pathway and trigger tumor cell death. They will examine apoptosis pathways and molecular binding sites to identify targets for new drugs. Results are intended to guide development of therapies or tests to find patients whose tumors depend on this metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that slow tumor growth, reduce spread, or make existing therapies more effective for kidney cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies targeting cancer metabolism have shown promise, but turning those findings into effective treatments for patients has been difficult so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Syracuse VA Medical Center
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mollapour, Mehdi — Syracuse VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mollapour, Mehdi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.