How a signaling protein (ERK) helps cancer cells move
Kinase Control of Synergistic Cell Migration Mechanics
Researchers are looking at how the enzyme ERK controls the small forces and structures that let cancer cells move and spread, which could help people with cancers that metastasize.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311310 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, scientists will watch normal and cancer cells grown in the lab using high-resolution imaging and force-sensing tools to see how ERK activity lines up with changes in the cell’s skeleton, attachments, and membrane tension. They will compare cells with normal ERK activity to cancer cells where ERK is overactive because of mutations. The team will manipulate ERK signaling and measure the timing and location of actin assembly, adhesion lifetime, and membrane tension to find which signals drive edge movement. This work aims to map the precise mechanical and signaling events that make some cancer cells more invasive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers known to have high ERK activity or with tumors that are prone to spreading could be most relevant for future trials or for donating tumor samples to related research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are not driven by ERK signaling or who have non-cancer conditions are less likely to benefit directly from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to block the mechanical steps cancer cells use to spread, informing therapies that reduce metastasis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked ERK to cell movement, but combining force-sensing and high-resolution timing to map synergistic mechanical fluctuations is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mendoza, Michelle Christine — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Mendoza, Michelle Christine
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 below.