How iron-driven cell death (ferroptosis) is controlled in cancer cells
Ferroptosis and Cancer Cell Signaling
Researchers are finding how an iron-driven form of cell death called ferroptosis is controlled in cancer cells to help identify new ways to kill tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306575 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how cancer cells either resist or undergo ferroptosis, a type of iron-dependent cell death, by focusing on cell-to-cell contacts and signaling proteins like E-cadherin, NF2/Hippo, and YAP. The team manipulates these proteins in cancer cell models and measures lipid peroxidation and other molecular markers of ferroptosis. They connect these molecular changes to tumor features such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastatic behavior. The aim is to identify molecular switches that could be targeted to make cancer cells more likely to die.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to patients with epithelial cancers, especially tumors with metastatic or mesenchymal features or alterations in E-cadherin/Hippo pathway genes.
Not a fit: Patients with non-epithelial cancers or tumors without ferroptosis-related markers are less likely to see direct benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets that make hard-to-treat tumors vulnerable to ferroptosis.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and animal studies have shown that manipulating ferroptosis can kill cancer cells, but clinical translation to effective patient therapies remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Xuejun — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Xuejun
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.