How a sugar-changing enzyme helps rectal cancer resist chemo and radiation
A novel, transferable sialylation-mediated mechanism of chemoradioresistance in GI cancer
Researchers will see if a protein called ST6Gal-1 and tiny particles released by tumors help some rectal cancers survive chemo and radiation, which could matter for people with rectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250028 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many rectal cancers only partly respond to chemoradiation, and the team thinks resistant tumor sub-clones with high ST6Gal-1 levels drive that problem. They will measure ST6Gal-1 in patient tumor samples and in tiny tumor-released particles (extracellular vesicles), isolate those particles, and test whether they can transfer resistance to other cells in the lab. The work uses patient-derived samples alongside laboratory models to trace how adding sialic acid to cell surface proteins changes survival after treatment. Confirming transferable resistance could point to new tests or treatments to predict or block resistance during chemoradiation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with rectal or related GI cancers who are receiving chemoradiation and can provide tumor tissue and clinical data for research.
Not a fit: Patients without GI or rectal cancer, or those not treated with chemoradiation, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to ways to predict which rectal cancers will resist chemoradiation and to new strategies to prevent that resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked ST6Gal-1 to tumor cell survival, but the idea that extracellular vesicles transfer chemoradiation resistance is a novel approach that is still early in study.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hardiman, Karin Marie — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Hardiman, Karin Marie
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.