How signals and physical forces make childhood bone and soft-tissue sarcomas spread
Cancer Biology Research Test-Bed Unit 1: Effects of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic signaling and mechanics on metastasis patterns of pediatric sarcomas
This project looks at how signals inside cancer cells and forces from their surroundings may cause Ewing sarcoma in children, adolescents, and young adults to spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184484 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are combining laboratory models, whole-organism models, and single-cell methods to watch how individual Ewing sarcoma cells change and move. They will study both cell-intrinsic factors (like gene regulation and cell mechanics) and cell-extrinsic factors (like signals from surrounding tissues and the tumor microenvironment). The team aims to capture heterogeneity across cells and organs to see which cells become metastatic and why. Findings will come from experiments that include animal and tissue models and advanced single-cell and imaging assays.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children, adolescents, and young adults with Ewing sarcoma—especially those with or at high risk for metastatic disease—would be the most relevant patient group for this work.
Not a fit: People with other types of cancer or unrelated health conditions would not be expected to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to predict or block the cancer cells that cause metastasis and eventually lead to treatments that improve survival for patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies have offered insights into metastasis, but translating these findings into better outcomes for metastatic Ewing sarcoma patients remains largely unproven and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amatruda, James F — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Amatruda, James F
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.