Developing drugs to stop cancer spread by targeting PRL3
PRL3 inhibitors as migrastatics and the molecular determinants of PRL3 druggability
Testing new medicines that block a protein called PRL3 to help people with metastatic solid tumors slow or stop tumor spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Southern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Statesboro, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers aim to create and improve drugs called migrastatics that specifically target the PRL3 protein, which is linked to cancer invasiveness and metastasis. In the lab they will use biochemical binding tests and cellular assays to show direct interaction, improve chemical stability and reduce off-target effects. Promising compounds will be tested in cancer models and examined alongside existing patient-derived data or samples to see if they reduce invasive behavior. The goal is to move toward treatments that could be offered to patients with PRL3-positive tumors in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with metastatic solid tumors that express PRL3—including some colorectal cancers and other cancers linked to PRL3—would be the most likely candidates for future trials or sample donation.
Not a fit: People whose tumors do not express PRL3 or who have early-stage cancers unlikely to depend on PRL3 are less likely to benefit from these targeted drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that slow or prevent cancer metastasis and provide options for late-stage patients.
How similar studies have performed: Several PRL3-targeting compounds have been reported, but they tend to be non-specific, unstable, and none have yet been shown to bind PRL3 directly, so the approach is promising but still early and unproven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Statesboro, United States
- Georgia Southern University — Statesboro, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dela Cerna, Mark Vincent Carreon — Georgia Southern University
- Study coordinator: Dela Cerna, Mark Vincent Carreon
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.