How bodies block leukemia cells from taking hold
Official title: Identifying host factors that block engraftment and progression of transmissible cancer as a model of AML
Funded at Pacific Northwest Research Institute · NIH-11250048 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are using a naturally contagious clam cancer to learn how some hosts stop leukemia cells from settling and growing, with the aim of helping people with acute myeloid leukemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pacific Northwest Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $406,685 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA255712-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11250048 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with acute myeloid leukemia who are interested in translational research or who might donate clinical samples for related follow-up studies would be most relevant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment changes or those with cancers unrelated to AML are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
This project uses a naturally transmissible cancer in soft-shell clams as a model to explore why some hosts resist engraftment while others allow tumor growth. Researchers compare tissue environments and gene activity in resistant versus susceptible clams to identify microenvironment patterns and host genes linked to engraftment and progression. They will also study how different clam populations evolved resistance to this contagious cancer to uncover protective mechanisms. The team hopes to translate those mechanisms into insights that could apply to human AML.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover biological pathways that stop leukemia cells from engrafting and growing, pointing to new ways to prevent relapse or spread in AML.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal-model and host-genetics research suggests host factors can influence tumor engraftment, but using a naturally contagious clam cancer as a model for AML is novel and less-tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Pacific Northwest Research Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Metzger, Michael Jeffrey — Pacific Northwest Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Metzger, Michael Jeffrey
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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.