GAPDHS and melanoma metabolism: a new biomarker and target
Official title: Investigating the role of GAPDHS in melanoma metabolism and metastasis
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11336361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how a brain/germ cell enzyme GAPDHS affects melanoma cancer metabolism and the cancer’s ability to spread, with the aim of finding biomarkers and new ways to predict or limit metastasis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $259,752 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA279757-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Melanoma patients whose tumors can be analyzed for GAPDHS expression or whose samples are available for biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to tumor samples or those whose tumors do not express GAPDHS may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how the enzyme GAPDHS influences melanoma metabolism and metastasis using patient-derived models and patient data. It will test whether GAPDHS’s activity is needed for cancer spread, whether it affects pyruvate carboxylase and related pathways, and whether GAPDHS levels in patients can predict tumor progression. The work combines experiments in biological models with analyses of patient samples to identify biomarkers of metastasis. If successful, it could point to new strategies to monitor and potentially limit metastasis in melanoma. The grant supports a clinician-scientist with substantial focus on translating lab findings to patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with melanoma could benefit from improved biomarkers to predict metastasis and new metabolic targets to prevent tumor spread.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests GAPDHS can modulate melanoma metabolism and metastasis in model systems, with ongoing validation in patient-derived models.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gill, Jennifer Gibson — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gill, Jennifer Gibson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Differing NAD+ kinase roles in melanoma spread
Researchers are studying how different NAD+ kinase forms affect the spread of melanoma, with the goal of finding new angles to prevent metastasis.
-
Understanding how palmitoylation affects Cadherin-Catenin cell adhesion and lung melanoma spread
This NIH grant studies how a chemical modification called palmitoylation influences how melanoma cells stick together and spread to the lungs, with potential to improve future treatments.
-
Role of GTP supply and localization in melanoma invasion and brain metastasis
This project looks at how the cell’s energy and building blocks for RNA and DNA help melanoma cells invade and spread to the brain.
-
Melanoma spread and therapy resistance in aging: decoding stress signals and gut microbes
This project aims to understand how aging changes melanoma's response to treatment by studying key stress signals inside tumors and the gut bacteria that shape anti-tumor immunity.
-
Preventing Melanoma Spread by Targeting Lipid Weaknesses in Lymph
Aims to block early melanoma metastasis by disrupting how cancer cells use fats in the lymphatic system.
-
Epigenetic regulators shaping melanoma cell diversity and spread
A study at NYU School of Medicine looks at how changes in gene regulation inside melanoma cells might drive varied cell states and help cancer spread.
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.