How p53 and MYC behavior controls cancer cells' responses to DNA damage
The roles of p53 and MYC dynamics in regulating heterogeneous cell fate responses to genotoxic stress
This work looks at how two proteins, p53 and MYC, change over time in cancer cells and how those changes make damaged cells either die or stop dividing to help improve cancer treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11256776 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use real-time fluorescence microscopy to watch p53 and MYC levels in individual cancer cells after DNA-damaging treatment, tagging the proteins so their timing and amount can be tracked. They will use genetic tools like CRISPR and single-cell gene-expression measurements to link those protein patterns to whether a cell undergoes apoptosis (cell death) or senescence (stops dividing). The team will analyze many single cells to understand why identical treatments produce different outcomes across cells and to find molecular triggers of therapy resistance. Findings aim to explain tumor cell heterogeneity and point to ways to make cancer therapies more reliable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with breast cancer or other tumors that involve abnormal p53 or MYC function are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose cancers are driven by unrelated pathways or people without cancer are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could explain why some cancer cells survive chemotherapy and identify molecular targets to make treatments work better.
How similar studies have performed: Scientists have long studied p53 and MYC and single-cell methods have revealed important variability, but using live single-cell protein dynamics to predict cell fate is a newer and still-developing approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Batchelor, Eric — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Batchelor, Eric
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.