Folic acid and colon cancer risk in ulcerative colitis
Official title: Folic Acid Supplementation and Colitis-associated Colon Carcinogenesis
Funded at Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · NIH-11311911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether taking folic acid changes colon cancer risk for people with ulcerative colitis, especially when certain cell changes are present.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 11, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $570,865 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA262551-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with ulcerative colitis, particularly those who take or are considering folic acid supplements or who have a history of dysplasia, are most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without ulcerative colitis or those not taking folic acid are unlikely to get direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team will use mouse models of colitis and lab-grown colon cells to see how folic acid affects tumor formation. They will compare cells with normal versus dysfunctional p53 (a key cancer-related gene) using CRISPR-engineered cell lines. The researchers will also use RNA sequencing to track which inflammatory and growth pathways, like ERK and NF-κB, are turned on by folic acid. Findings aim to explain why folic acid might increase tumors in some colitis settings and not others.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, the results could help doctors give clearer advice about folic acid supplements and reduce colon cancer risk in ulcerative colitis patients.
How similar studies have gone: Animal and lab studies, including preliminary work from this team, have suggested folic acid can increase tumor risk in colitis models, while human data remain mixed and inconclusive.
Where this research is happening
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Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clapper, Margie L. — Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Clapper, Margie L.
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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.