How early cancer cells hide, cooperate, and later cause metastasis
Investigating disseminated cancer cell clonal cooperation and immune control in dormancy and metastasis
This project looks at how early cancer cells hide from the immune system, team up with later-arriving cancer cells, and later form lung metastases to help people with cancers that can spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319813 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team follows individual cancer cells that leave the primary tumor and lodge in the lungs using genetic lineage tracing, protein barcoding, and single-cell RNA sequencing to read what those cells are doing. They combine mouse models with analysis of human tumor data and tissue samples to learn how early disseminated cancer cells (eDCCs) stay dormant, avoid immune attack, and later cooperate with later-arriving cells to grow. The researchers are examining immune features like lower MHC-I and higher immune-suppressive proteins (Gal-1, TGFβ2) that may let these cells hide. The goal is to find signals that wake dormant cells or targets that could keep them asleep and prevent metastasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with early-stage solid tumors or cancer survivors at risk for lung metastasis who can provide tissue or blood samples or participate in follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers, tumors that do not typically spread to the lung, or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than sample donation are less likely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal ways to detect or block the awakening of dormant cancer cells and help prevent metastatic relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Past research has shown that disseminated cancer cells can seed metastases and use immune-evasion tactics, but the concept that early and late disseminated cells cooperate to start metastases is relatively new and being tested here.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aguirre-Ghiso, Julio a. — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Aguirre-Ghiso, Julio a.
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.