How loss of p16 changes metabolism in melanoma
Investigating p16 Loss in Pro-tumorigenic Metabolism
This project looks at whether melanoma tumors that lose the p16 protein depend on a specific nucleotide-making pathway that could be blocked with drugs for patients with p16-low melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10976525 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine melanoma cells with low or missing p16 in the lab to see how that loss changes metabolism, focusing on the ATR–mTORC1 signaling pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway that makes nucleotides. They will use cell lines and experimental models to trace how metabolic changes promote tumor growth and to identify vulnerabilities. The team will test whether blocking this pathway, alone or together with BRAF inhibitors, can slow or kill p16-low melanoma cells. If the lab results look promising, they could guide future clinical trials of these drug combinations for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients whose melanoma tumors show low p16 protein or p16 gene deletion — especially those with mutant BRAF — are the group most likely to be helped by this line of work.
Not a fit: Patients with melanomas that retain normal p16 expression, or people with non-melanoma cancers, are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to drug combinations that better control or slow p16-low melanomas, leading to new treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies indicate that targeting nucleotide metabolism and ATR/mTOR pathways can impair cancer cell growth, but combining these approaches specifically for p16-low melanoma is a newer, less-tested idea.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aird, Katherine Marie — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Aird, Katherine Marie
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.