How mis-spliced RNA can drive pancreatic and breast cancer
Official title: Project 2: Splicing Dysregulation in Cancer
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11294227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how abnormal RNA splicing in pancreatic and breast cancers could reveal new targeted treatments for people with those cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | February 10, 1997 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $411,429 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA013106-54 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pancreatic cancer or basal-like (aggressive) breast cancer, especially whose tumors show splicing-factor changes like SRSF1 overexpression or mutant KRAS, would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show splicing abnormalities or people seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how two splicing-related proteins (SRSF1 and BCAS2) change RNA messages in pancreatic and breast tumors and drive cancer behavior. They will use lab-grown tumor organoids, genetic mouse models, and tumor samples to see which altered RNA isoforms promote tumor growth. High-throughput RNA sequencing and computational analysis will find the specific mis-spliced RNAs, and scientists will then manipulate those isoforms to test whether correcting them slows or stops tumors. The team aims to identify cancer-specific RNA targets that could be attacked by future therapies such as antisense oligonucleotides.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new therapies that specifically target cancer-causing RNA isoforms, potentially improving treatment options for pancreatic and certain breast cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Targeting splicing or specific RNA isoforms has shown promise in laboratory models and antisense drugs work for some genetic diseases, but applying these approaches to pancreatic and breast cancer remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krainer, Adrian R — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Krainer, Adrian R
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.