How arsenic exposure causes cancer
Official title: Mechanism for arsenic induced carcinogenesis
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11467959 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how low-level arsenic exposure changes small RNAs and gene splicing in skin cells to explain why some people develop arsenic-related skin cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $142,558 |
| NIH project number | 3R01ES027778-08S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467959 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic arsenic exposure, arsenic-related skin lesions, or arsenic-associated squamous cell carcinoma would be most relevant for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of arsenic exposure or those with cancers unrelated to arsenic are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This project looks at how arsenic exposure alters microRNAs and the splicing of a related gene in human skin cells and how those changes lead to chromosomal instability. Scientists use human keratinocyte cell models (including a new Ker-CT model) and detailed karyotype analysis to track aneuploidy and other genetic changes. The team focuses on miR-186 and five other microRNAs that are overexpressed after arsenic exposure and may suppress mitotic regulators. Findings aim to map the molecular steps from arsenic exposure to tumor development to inform future detection or prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular markers or targets for earlier detection, prevention, or future treatments of arsenic-related skin cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked arsenic exposure to miRNA changes and chromosomal instability, but using this new human keratinocyte model to map specific microRNAs like miR-186 is a relatively novel and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: States, J Christopher — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: States, J Christopher
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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.