Circular RNA's role in lung cancer spread
Official title: Circle RNA Regulation of Lung Cancer Metastasis
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11301898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing whether a circular RNA called CDR1as helps lung squamous cancer spread by stabilizing a related protein (CDR1), using patient tumor data and lab/animal models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $398,845 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA279532-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with lung squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with advanced or metastatic disease who can share tumor samples or clinical data, would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People with other lung cancer types (such as adenocarcinoma) or those with early-stage disease unlikely to metastasize may not directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This project links patterns seen in patient lung squamous tumors with experiments in engineered mouse models that mimic how this cancer spreads. Researchers will raise or lower levels of a circular RNA (CDR1as) and the CDR1 protein to see how those changes affect metastasis. They will also study how CDR1 interacts with Golgi trafficking proteins and RNA processing pathways to find the molecular steps that let tumor cells migrate. The goal is to pinpoint pathways or markers that could be targeted to stop or detect metastatic disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or biomarkers to prevent or detect metastatic lung squamous carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Studies linking circular RNAs to cancer progression exist, but targeting circRNAs therapeutically is still a novel and experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pecot, Chad V — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pecot, Chad V
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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.