How age-related DNA changes lead to colon tumors
Defining the Function of Age-Related Epimutation in Intestinal Tumorigenesis
Researchers will test whether age-related DNA methylation changes in colon cells help cause colorectal cancer and whether reversing those changes can improve treatment for people with colon tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129435 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists are studying DNA changes that build up with age and are found in both aging colons and colon cancers. They will recreate these age-related changes in mice using epigenetic engineering to see how they affect tumor growth and spread. The team will study intestinal stem cells to understand how combined epimutations drive cancer and will try drug combinations that target epigenetics together with immunotherapy in mouse tumors. The work focuses in part on tumors with BRAF mutations to learn how age-related epigenetic changes influence metastasis and treatment response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer — particularly older adults or patients whose tumors show BRAF mutations or signs of epigenetic silencing — could be candidates for related future clinical trials.
Not a fit: People without colorectal disease or whose tumors lack these specific age-related epigenetic changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new prevention or treatment strategies that target age-related epigenetic changes and improve responses to combined epigenetic and immunotherapy treatments for colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior clinical and preclinical work with epigenetic drugs and immunotherapy shows promise, but modeling age-related epimutations to guide therapy is largely novel and remains at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Lanlan — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Shen, Lanlan
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.