Early changes in the gut that lead to colon and esophagus cancer
Translational Science of Gastrointestinal Cancer Initiation and Progression
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 ID | NIH-11171762 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Barrett’s esophagus or patients who have advanced colorectal adenomas (polyps) who can provide tissue samples or clinical data.
Not a fit: People without precancerous lesions or those with unrelated non-GI conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
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 performed: 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
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Ming — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Yu, Ming
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.