Esophageal cancer start and immune changes
Official title: Esophageal squamous cell cancer initiation and immune landscape remodeling
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11457155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a specific cell type appears early in esophageal cancer and how it changes the surrounding immune environment, aiming to stop cancer before it grows.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,798 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA286761-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457155 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with or at risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma could benefit from earlier detection strategies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit to participants until potential early-intervention strategies are translated into clinical tools.
What this research studies
This project looks at the earliest steps of esophageal squamous cell cancer by focusing on CELF2+ preneoplastic cells and how they interact with nearby immune and connective tissues. The team will use mouse models, lab-grown organoids, genetic barcoding, and multiple molecular analysis methods to map how these cells arise, expand, and shape the tumor neighborhood. The goal is to identify when and where the cancer-initiating cells emerge and how their signals recruit the surrounding cells to support tumor formation. By understanding these interactions, researchers hope to reveal new opportunities for early detection and interception of ESCC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier detection methods and new strategies to prevent ESCC from progressing.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked early cellular changes to cancer progression, and this project builds on that by mapping a specific preneoplastic cell state and its microenvironment interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ko, Kyung Pil — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Ko, Kyung Pil
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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.