How immune cells and Th17 inflammation drive colitis-related colon cancer
Official title: Dissecting the Myeloid-Th17 axis in the pathogenesis of Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11263745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how certain immune cells and ongoing gut inflammation help cause colon cancer in people with long-term colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | February 3, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,932 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA277554-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11263745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis) who are at increased risk for colitis-associated colorectal cancer are the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
People with colorectal cancer that is unrelated to chronic colitis or those without inflammatory bowel disease are less likely to benefit directly from these findings in the short term.
What this research studies
The team uses laboratory models that mimic colitis-driven colon cancer to follow how immune cells gather and change inside tumors. They track neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and IL-17-producing CD4+ T (Th17) cells and study the molecular signals (for example Cxcr2 and Ccr2 pathways) that recruit them. The researchers test whether blocking those recruitment or signaling pathways lowers tumor-promoting inflammation and tumor growth. Results could point to immune-based strategies to prevent or treat colon cancer that develops after chronic intestinal inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new immune-targeted approaches to prevent or treat colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and human studies have linked neutrophils and Th17 responses to colorectal cancer, but directly targeting the myeloid–Th17 axis for prevention or therapy remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chadha, Awalpreet Singh — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Chadha, Awalpreet Singh
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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.