How fat use changes make ovarian cancer more invasive and chemo‑resistant
Official title: Lipid Metabolism Switch Triggers Invasive and Chemoresistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Phenotype
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11146614 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether shifts in how ovarian cancer cells use fats make them more likely to spread and resist chemotherapy for people with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $752,429 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA266415-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146614 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with epithelial ovarian cancer—especially those with omental/abdominal spread, ascites, or tumors that have become resistant to chemotherapy—would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without epithelial ovarian cancer (for example, those with benign ovarian conditions or non-ovarian cancers) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will grow 3-D ovarian tumor organoids (mini-tumors) in the lab to better mimic the tumor environment. They will use single-cell biophysical tests to find and study polyploidal giant cancer cells, a small group of cells that can survive treatment and later regrow tumors. The team will track metabolic shifts from sugar-based to oxygen- and fat-based energy, watching mitochondrial activity, loss of lipid droplets, and autophagy. The goal is to pinpoint traits of invasive, drug-resistant cells that could be targeted in future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat invasive, chemo‑resistant ovarian cancer cells and lower the chance of relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have linked metabolic switching and lipid use to cancer invasiveness, but targeting polyploidal giant cancer cells is a newer and largely experimental approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dawson, Michelle R — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Dawson, Michelle R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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TAG72 CAR-T therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
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Liquid biopsy clues: plasma bacteria as early warning for epithelial ovarian cancer
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Understanding how cancer cells talk to the immune system and how to use that to treat ovarian cancer
This grant studies how aging-like changes in ovarian cancer cells drive harmful signals and tests new ways to block those signals to improve treatment.
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Targeting the immune system to help treat recurrent ovarian cancer
Aims to test a new approach that blocks a part of the immune system (complement) to boost anticancer immunity in people with recurrent ovarian cancer and fluid buildup.
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Th17-inducing vaccine plus pembrolizumab for recurrent ovarian cancer
A phase I/II study tests a vaccine that activates Th17 immune cells together with pembrolizumab to help fight recurrent ovarian cancer.
-
CAR T-cell therapy targeting TAG72 for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
This trial tries a CAR T‑cell treatment that targets the TAG72 protein for people with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, given directly into the abdomen.
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.