How fat tissue affects colorectal cancer growth
Official title: The alterations caused by obese extracellular vesicles on colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10990326 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny particles from fat tissue in people with obesity might change the environment around colorectal cancer tumors, which could help explain why those patients sometimes don’t respond as well to chemotherapy, with the hope of finding better treatment options for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $39,872 |
| NIH project number | 1F99CA294247-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10990326 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are colorectal cancer patients with a high body mass index (BMI).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with colorectal cancer who have a normal BMI may not benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how extracellular vesicles (tiny particles released by fat tissue) from obese individuals influence the tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer. It focuses on understanding the differences in these vesicles from obese versus non-obese patients and how they affect cancer cell metabolism and growth. By analyzing the cargo carried by these vesicles, the research aims to uncover mechanisms that may lead to poorer chemotherapy responses in obese colorectal cancer patients. The ultimate goal is to identify potential targeted therapies that could improve treatment outcomes for this specific group of patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new targeted therapies that improve chemotherapy effectiveness for obese colorectal cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that targeting metabolic pathways influenced by obesity can improve cancer treatment outcomes, suggesting that this approach may also be promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haque, Parsa — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Haque, Parsa
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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.