How RNA-binding proteins drive cell changes that let colorectal cancer start and spread
Regulation of RBP Function during EMT
This research looks at how signals in KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer change RNA processing to help tumors start, resist treatment, and spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321110 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work that focuses on colorectal cancers with KRAS mutations and how a scaffold protein called KSR1 and an RNA-binding protein SRSF9 change which RNAs are made and used by tumor cells. The team will use gene-targeting tools like CRISPR, polysome profiling to see which RNAs are being translated, and computational analysis to connect those changes to tumor-initiating cell behavior and EMT (the cell changes that enable invasion). They will work with cancer cell models and genetically modified systems and may use patient-derived tumor material to link findings to real tumors. The aim is to understand the switches that move cells between self-renewing and invasive states so future treatments can block resistance and spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer, especially those whose tumors have KRAS mutations, would be the most relevant candidates to provide samples or be considered for follow-up clinical efforts.
Not a fit: People without colorectal cancer or without KRAS-mutant tumors are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets to prevent drug resistance and metastasis in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links KRAS, KSR1, and RNA-binding proteins to cancer progression and EMT, but the specific role of SRSF9 in driving tumor-initiating cells and drug resistance is relatively new and builds on preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Robert E. — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Robert E.
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.