How Blood Vessels Fuel Cancer Spread
Vascular regulation of fatty acid transport in metastatic tumor outgrowth
This project explores how blood vessels provide nutrients, specifically fats, to help cancer cells grow and spread throughout the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128700 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cancer cells need a supportive environment and nutrients to grow and spread, especially when they move from their original location. This work focuses on how fatty acids, a type of fat, are taken up and used by cancer cells to fuel their growth and spread. Researchers are looking closely at the role of blood vessels in the tumor's environment, as these vessels are crucial for delivering nutrients. The goal is to understand how blood vessel cells regulate the transport of fatty acids, which could be a key factor in how metastatic tumors develop.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to help those affected by metastatic cancer, particularly breast cancer, in the future.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancer does not rely on fatty acid transport for metastasis may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to stop cancer from spreading by targeting how blood vessels feed metastatic tumors.
How similar studies have performed: While the importance of fatty acid metabolism in tumor metastasis is emerging, the specific role of vascular endothelial cells in regulating this process is a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jin — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jin
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.