How pancreatic cancer metabolism changes gene activity
Metabolic compartmentalization and the regulation of histone propionylation in cancer
Researchers are looking at whether pancreatic tumors make propionyl-CoA inside cell nuclei from branched-chain amino acids to change gene activity and help the cancer grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work focuses on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and how changes in metabolism affect gene control. Researchers will map where propionyl-CoA is produced inside cancer cells, identify the enzymes involved, and follow how this leads to histone propionylation and altered gene expression. They will use lab-grown cancer cells, animal models, and tumor samples to trace metabolic pathways and test what happens when key enzymes are changed. The goal is to link these biochemical steps to tumor growth and find points that could be targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who can donate tumor tissue or clinical data (for example during surgery or biopsy) would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without pancreatic cancer or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct, near-term benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new molecular targets to block metabolism-driven epigenetic changes and potentially slow pancreatic tumor growth.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies have shown that metabolism can alter chromatin marks in cancer, but the idea that nuclear propionyl-CoA production drives histone propionylation in pancreatic cancer is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wellen, Kathryn Elaine — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Wellen, Kathryn Elaine
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.