How colon cancer spreads to the lining of the belly
Defining the role of seed and soil in peritoneal metastasis evolution
This project looks at the genetic patterns that explain how colorectal cancer cells reach and grow on the peritoneal (belly) lining in people whose cancer has spread there.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322029 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your tissue is included, researchers will examine tumor samples from people whose colorectal cancer spread to the peritoneum and read DNA from several regions of each tumor. They will compare cases that spread at the same time as the original tumor (synchronous) with those that appeared later (metachronous) to see whether cancer cells take different routes to the belly lining. The team will use clinical records and genomic data from a large international group of about 103 patients to link genetic patterns to how the disease behaved. This work aims to point to markers of aggressive peritoneal spread and to suggest targets for future tests or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who had colorectal cancer that later involved the peritoneum and who have tumor tissue and clinical records available from surgery or biopsy.
Not a fit: People with early-stage colon cancer that never spread, those without available tumor tissue, or anyone seeking immediate therapeutic benefit are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this retrospective genomic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how peritoneal metastases form could lead to earlier detection, improved prognostic tests, and new treatment targets for people with colorectal cancer that spreads to the belly lining.
How similar studies have performed: Genomic studies of other metastatic sites have revealed clinically useful patterns, but detailed genomic work focused on peritoneal metastases is relatively new and has only limited preliminary data so far.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naxerova, Kamila — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Naxerova, Kamila
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.