How cancer changes gene control and cell metabolism
Interaction between nuclear epigenetic and metabolic pathways in cancer
Researchers are exploring how gene-switching machinery and cell metabolism work together in cancers to point toward new treatment targets for people with hard-to-treat tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172416 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks inside cancer cells to map how chromatin (the proteins and marks that control genes) and metabolic enzymes in the nucleus interact. Scientists will use a range of laboratory methods including genomic and proteomic mapping, biochemical assays, and experiments in normal and cancer cell lines to trace these connections. The project builds on past discoveries about the tumor suppressor p53 and a metabolic enzyme that appears to fuel a histone-modifying enzyme. Findings are meant to reveal mechanisms that could be targeted by future drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this is laboratory research, people with cancers involving p53 changes or tumors resistant to current treatments could be the future beneficiaries of therapies that arise from this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or current clinical trials are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new molecular targets that lead to therapies that more precisely change harmful gene activity in tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that target chromatin regulators have already shown benefit in some cancers, but linking nuclear metabolism directly to epigenetic control is a newer and less-tested area.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berger, Shelley L — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Berger, Shelley L
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.