Copper's role in controlling hypoxia-driven HIFs in kidney cancer
Official title: Role of Copper in the Regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factors (HIFs)
Funded at Cincinnati VA Medical Center Research · NIH-11177198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how copper affects the activity of HIF proteins in clear cell renal cell carcinoma to understand potential new ways to treat the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati VA Medical Center Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2011 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 2I01BX001110-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma or related kidney cancers could potentially benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
If the copper-HIF pathway is not a driver in a patient's tumor, direct benefit may be limited.
What this research studies
In ccRCC, loss of VHL activates HIF transcription factors that drive cancer metabolism. The study focuses on how copper influences the regulation of HIF1 and HIF2, along with their partners, which could reveal new angles for therapy. Using molecular and cellular approaches, the research aims to map how copper affects HIF-related signaling and metabolism in human kidney cancer cells. Findings could point toward strategies that modify tumor metabolism or enhance existing treatments. The work is anchored in human cancer biology and aims to translate basic insights into patient-relevant endpoints.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could uncover new approaches to disrupt cancer metabolism in ccRCC and inform combination therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies link HIF signaling and ccRCC metabolism; this project adds copper's regulatory role, which is promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati VA Medical Center Research
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Czyzyk-Krzeska, Maria F — Cincinnati VA Medical Center Research
- Study coordinator: Czyzyk-Krzeska, Maria F
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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.