How fat droplets and damaged fats trigger ferroptosis
Elucidating the relationship between lipid droplets, oxidative lipid damage, and ferroptosis
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · NIH-11226221
Researchers are looking at how fat droplets and oxidized fats inside cells lead to ferroptosis, a form of cell death that could be used to target drug-resistant cancers.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BERKELEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11226221 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team uses lab-grown cells and gene-editing tools like CRISPR to map how lipid droplets and oxidized lipids build up and cause ferroptosis. They focus on protective systems in cells, such as GPX4 and the recently discovered FSP1 pathway, and study how antioxidants like reduced coenzyme Q10 prevent lipid damage. By removing or inhibiting these protections in the lab, scientists observe when and how cancer cells die by ferroptosis. The goal is to identify specific molecular targets that could make stubborn, treatment-resistant tumors more vulnerable to therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that have stopped responding to standard treatments (drug-resistant tumors) would be the most relevant group for future therapies arising from this work.
Not a fit: People without cancer or with cancers unlikely to respond to ferroptosis-based approaches would probably not benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets that help kill drug-resistant cancer cells by promoting ferroptosis.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have shown that targeting GPX4 or FSP1 can trigger ferroptosis in cancer cells, but translating these findings into effective patient treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
BERKELEY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY — BERKELEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: OLZMANN, JAMES A — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- Study coordinator: OLZMANN, JAMES 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.