Developing drugs to stop cancer spread by targeting PRL3
Official title: PRL3 inhibitors as migrastatics and the molecular determinants of PRL3 druggability
Funded at Georgia Southern University · NIH-11159633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $175,354 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154696-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Actin Filament Modeling in Low-Res Cryo-ET with Deep Learning
A new imaging approach uses advanced computer methods to map actin filaments in cancer cells, with the goal of understanding how the cytoskeleton contributes to cancer spread.
-
PRL3 inhibitors to stop cancer spread and reveal how PRL3 can be drugged
This project aims to find and test chemicals that block PRL3 to stop cancer cells from spreading in patients with cancer.
-
Spinning disk fluorescence microscope to boost biomedical research and education
A grant to buy a high-resolution confocal microscope for Georgia Southern University to help students and researchers image neural tissues and cancer-related samples.
-
Ecology of flea immunity and how it shapes disease risk
This project looks at how fleas’ own biology and living conditions affect their ability to fight bacterial infections that can make people sick.
-
Environmental factors affecting N95 comfort and protection for concrete workers
This project looks at how heat, fumes, and workers’ comfort influence how well N95 respirators protect Ready Mix concrete workers from silica dust and ultrafine particles.
-
Identifying tick species that spread Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus
This study is all about figuring out which types of ticks can spread the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, so we can find better ways to identify them and help keep everyone safe from tick-borne illnesses.
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.