Focal Adhesion Kinase inhibitor to block osteosarcoma spread to the lungs
Official title: Focal Adhesion Kinase inhibition for dual targeting of osteosarcoma cells and the tumor microenvironment to prevent metastasis
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11415785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer treatment plan tests whether blocking a specific cell signal can stop osteosarcoma from growing and spreading to the lungs in kids and young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,182 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA303990-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with osteosarcoma, especially those at risk of metastasis or who have progressed after frontline therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tumors that do not rely on FAK signaling or who cannot tolerate the drug combination may see little or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how blocking focal adhesion kinase (FAK) might disrupt the cancer cells and the surrounding lung environment that allows metastasis. Researchers will study how FAK affects tumor cells and the surrounding immune and stromal cells, and how this could make other treatments work better. The work builds on canine data and a current pediatric trial, aiming to refine a combination approach to prevent lung metastases and improve outcomes. The team may test drug combinations and mechanisms in preclinical models and early-stage human studies to guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce lung metastases and improve survival for osteosarcoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous canine and early human data suggest potential benefit, but results in children require confirmation in trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Regan, Daniel Patrick — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Regan, Daniel Patrick
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Epigenetic subtypes of osteosarcoma linked to chemo resistance and spread
This project looks for different molecular subtypes of osteosarcoma in children and young adults to understand why some tumors resist chemotherapy or spread.
-
Understanding the genetic differences in osteosarcoma to improve treatment options
This study is looking at different types of osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that mostly affects kids and young adults, to find out how their genes work and how they might respond to treatments, so we can create better, more personalized therapies for patients.
-
Stopping Osteosarcoma from Spreading
This project looks for new ways to stop osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer common in young people, from spreading to other parts of the body.
-
Understanding how osteosarcoma spreads to the lungs
This study is looking at how bone cancer, called osteosarcoma, spreads to the lungs, and it aims to find new ways to stop this from happening, which could help patients get better treatments for their cancer.
-
Targeting a protein to stop the spread of bone cancer in young people
This study is exploring how a protein called DKK-1 affects the spread of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that often affects teens and young adults, and aims to find a new treatment that could help stop the cancer from spreading, inviting patients to join in by sharing their blood or tumor samples.
-
Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
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.