How aldehydes harm protein folding and raise cancer risk
Proteotoxic Metabolites in Genome Instability and Disease
This work looks at how common chemicals called aldehydes damage protein-folding helpers, which can break DNA repair and raise the chance of cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230253 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at MD Anderson will examine how aldehydes like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde create abnormal chemical attachments that harm proteins needed for DNA repair. They will compare direct DNA damage with damage to protein-folding machinery, focusing on the chaperone HSP90, using cell and tumor models and molecular tests. The team will use systems that reveal when HSP90's protective role is lost to see whether protein damage drives genome instability. Results are meant to point to new markers or pathways that could be targeted to reduce aldehyde-related cancer risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers tied to aldehyde exposure (for example alcohol-related cancers) or with inherited defects in aldehyde clearance pathways would be the most relevant patients for this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are unrelated to aldehyde exposure or driven by entirely different mechanisms may not see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new markers or drug targets to prevent or treat cancers linked to aldehyde damage.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown aldehydes make DNA adducts and that HSP90 can buffer harmful mutations, but linking aldehyde-driven protein damage to genome instability is a newer concept with limited direct testing so far.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karras, Georgios — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Karras, Georgios
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.