FXR1-carrying extracellular vesicles and their role in bladder cancer microenvironment
Official title: Unraveling the Impact of Extracellular Vesicle-Loaded FXR1 mRNA on Re-educating Cancer Microenvironment
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11413751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how FXR1 carried by cell-derived vesicles may alter the tumor environment in bladder cancer to support cancer growth and progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $494,160 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291708-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with bladder cancer whose tumors exhibit FXR1-related signaling or 3q26 amplification, and who may provide tumor samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without FXR1-driven tumor biology or who do not contribute tissue samples may see no direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin are exploring how a protein called FXR1, packaged inside extracellular vesicles released by tumor cells, affects the surrounding cells in bladder cancer. They will look at how FXR1 mRNA inside these vesicles interacts with cellular partners and promotes the production of proteins that help tumors grow. The research uses CRISPR-based tools and molecular assays to map these interactions and to see how macrophages and other cells in the tumor microenvironment respond. Understanding this communication could reveal new targets to disrupt tumor-promoting signals. The study aims to connect molecular changes inside immune and stromal cells to overall tumor progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to interrupt tumor-supporting communication in bladder cancer and lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in related cancer models have shown that manipulating RNA-binding proteins and EV-mediated signaling can alter tumor behavior, but direct translation to bladder cancer is still under investigation.
Where this research is happening
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Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaluvally-Raghavan, Pradeep — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Chaluvally-Raghavan, Pradeep
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.