Finding the tumor cells that start colorectal cancer spread
Official title: Towards a complete characterization of the metastasis founder clones in colorectal cancer
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11294284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look for the specific tumor cell populations that seed liver metastases in people with colorectal cancer who have surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $543,590 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269281-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with colorectal cancer who are undergoing surgical removal of their primary tumor and have matching liver metastases available for collection.
✕Less likely to help
People without colorectal cancer, without metastatic disease, or not undergoing surgery would not be candidates and are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors will take many small biopsies from your removed primary colorectal tumor and from matching liver metastases and map how the tumor evolved. They will use genetic mutation patterns to identify the exact areas in the primary tumor that gave rise to each metastasis and compare those “founder” areas with nearby tumor regions that did not spread. The team will measure gene activity (RNA) in those founder versus bystander regions to find recurring molecular traits linked to metastasis. Lab models and detailed analyses will be used to better understand which traits might actually drive the ability to colonize the liver.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular markers that help predict or target the tumor cells most likely to cause dangerous metastases.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have shown rare subpopulations with higher metastatic ability and some human phylogenetic work supports single-clone founders, but the specific molecular traits in human founder clones remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naxerova, Kamila — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Naxerova, Kamila
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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.