How cancer cells use nutrients to grow
Understanding the role of metabolism in cancer
This work looks at how different cancers change the way they use food and energy to grow, with the goal of finding new weak points that could lead to treatments for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176823 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers study how cancer cells turn available nutrients into the molecules needed to make new cells and how that differs by cancer type and tissue of origin. They examine how genetic factors and the tumor environment constrain or enable specific metabolic pathways. The team uses laboratory models that mimic human tissues, cell studies, and analysis of tumor samples to identify metabolic steps that limit tumor growth. Findings aim to reveal metabolic 'bottlenecks' that could be targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer—especially those with solid tumors whose cancers rely on altered metabolism—would be the eventual candidates for therapies that come from this research.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate standard-of-care treatment or those with cancers that do not depend on the metabolic pathways studied may not see direct benefit from this basic research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatment targets that block tumor growth by cutting off key metabolic pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have identified metabolic vulnerabilities in some cancers, but translating those findings into widely effective patient treatments remains an active and developing area.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vander Heiden, Matthew G. — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Vander Heiden, Matthew G.
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.