How caspase‑8 works on autophagy membranes in cancer
Non-canonical Caspase-8 Activation on Autophagosomal Membranes
This research looks at how a protein called caspase‑8 interacts with the cell’s cleanup system to help cancer cells survive, focusing on tumors that have lost the VPS37A gene.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will be hearing about lab work that studies tumor cells with VPS37A loss to see how blocked autophagy (the cell’s cleanup pathway) changes survival signaling. Scientists will track proteins on forming autophagosomes and test how the TAK1/TAB2/NF‑κB pathway and caspase‑8 control death‑inducing complexes. They will use molecular tools in cancer cell models (and related preclinical models) to turn pathways on or off and measure whether cancer cells live or die. The goal is to find points in this pathway that could be targeted by drugs to make VPS37A‑deleted tumors less able to survive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with solid tumors showing deletion or loss of VPS37A (8p22) or with cancers suspected to have impaired autophagic flux would be the most relevant candidates for future trials informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have VPS37A loss or whose disease is not driven by autophagy‑related survival mechanisms may not benefit from findings targeting this pathway.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new drug targets (for example TAK1/IKK/NF‑κB signaling on autophagosomes) that make certain solid tumors more likely to undergo cell death.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links autophagy and cell‑death pathways, but targeting caspase‑8 activation on autophagosomal membranes and the TAK1/TAB2/NF‑κB gate is a newer, largely preclinical approach that has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hong-Gang — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hong-Gang
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.