Early changes in the gut that lead to colon and esophagus cancer
Official title: Translational Science of Gastrointestinal Cancer Initiation and Progression
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11171762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at tissue and molecular changes in people with Barrett’s esophagus or colon polyps to help catch or prevent cancer earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $345,951 |
| NIH project number | 5R50CA233042-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with Barrett’s esophagus or patients who have advanced colorectal adenomas (polyps) who can provide tissue samples or clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
People without precancerous lesions or those with unrelated non-GI conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You may be asked to let researchers use tissue or medical data from your colon or esophagus so they can look for early warning signs of cancer. Scientists will compare 'normal' tissue near precancerous lesions to tissue from people without lesions and study DNA methylation and supporting cells like fibroblasts. Lab work will explore how these surrounding cells and molecular changes create an environment that helps cancer start. The team aims to turn those findings into markers or approaches that could enable earlier detection or prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests or strategies that detect colorectal or esophageal cancer earlier or lower the chance precancerous lesions become cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown molecular and microenvironment changes near precancerous lesions, but translating those findings into routine prevention or early-detection tools is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Ming — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Yu, Ming
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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.