Complement proteins and cancer-related muscle loss
The Complement System and Cancer Cachexia
This project checks whether blocking complement proteins can reduce muscle wasting in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170490 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers found higher levels of complement proteins (including C3) and membrane attack complexes in muscle from people and mice with pancreatic cancer. They will use pancreatic cancer mouse models, including mice that lack C3 and mice given drugs to block complement activity, to see how complement causes muscle damage, inflammation, and poor regeneration. The team will measure muscle mass, strength, tissue inflammation, and molecular markers and compare those findings with data from patient muscle samples. The aim is to connect complement activity to the muscle loss patients experience and identify ways to protect muscle.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with pancreatic or other cancers who are experiencing weight loss or muscle wasting and who could donate muscle or blood samples or be eligible for future treatment trials.
Not a fit: People without cancer or those whose muscle loss is caused by purely non-cachexia reasons (for example, immobilization without systemic cancer) may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that slow or prevent cancer-related muscle wasting, improving strength, quality of life, and tolerance of cancer therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Complement-targeting therapies have helped in other inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, but applying complement inhibition specifically to cancer cachexia is a relatively new and early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Judge, Andrew Robert — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Judge, Andrew Robert
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.