How fats inside and around melanoma cells affect where the cancer spreads
Cancer Biology Research Test-Bed Unit 2: Effects of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic variations in lipid metabolism on metastasis patterns
This project looks at how different fats inside and around melanoma cells change the cancer’s chance of spreading for people with melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184487 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have melanoma, this work examines why some tumor cells survive travel through the body while others die. Researchers compare tumor behavior in the lymph versus the blood and measure oxidative stress and specific fats in cell membranes. They use patient-derived tumor samples and mouse models to see how fatty acids like oleic acid protect tumor cells from a type of cell death called ferroptosis. The team tests how changing lipid composition could change metastasis patterns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with melanoma, especially those with advanced or metastatic disease or who can provide tumor tissue for lab study, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without melanoma or those whose cancers are driven by unrelated mechanisms are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent melanoma from spreading by targeting lipid metabolism or oxidative stress pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory studies have shown that lipid composition and ferroptosis affect metastatic survival, but translating those findings into patient treatments is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morrison, Sean J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Morrison, Sean J
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.