Blocking RANKL to prevent muscle and bone loss in cancer cachexia
Targeting RANKL for the treatment of muscle and bone defects in cachexia
This project tests whether blocking a protein called RANKL can help people with cancer avoid losing muscle and bone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11229603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are looking at whether high levels of RANKL, a protein that promotes bone breakdown, also drive muscle wasting in people with cancer. They compare blood and bone markers like RANKL and CTX-I from patients with experiments in mice and lab-grown muscle cells. In animal models they plan to block RANKL and measure effects on bone mass, muscle size, strength, and cell survival, and they compare tumors that make lots of RANKL with those that do not. The team hopes findings will show whether RANKL-blocking treatments used for bone disease could also protect muscle during cancer-related weight loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with advanced cancer who have unintentional weight loss, muscle wasting, or evidence of bone loss, especially patients with ovarian cancer where elevated RANKL has been observed.
Not a fit: Patients whose muscle or weight loss is driven by factors unrelated to RANKL (or who have no signs of bone loss) may be unlikely to benefit from RANKL-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that preserve both muscle and bone in people with cancer-related cachexia, improving strength and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that block RANKL, such as denosumab, are already effective at preventing bone loss and fractures, but using RANKL blockade specifically to prevent muscle wasting in cancer is a newer and less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonetto, Andrea — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bonetto, Andrea
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 below.