How some cancers adapt when a key mitochondrial enzyme (SDH) stops working
Official title: Project 2: Systemic Understanding of Cellular Mechanisms of Metabolic Adaptations in Cancer
Funded at New Mexico State University Las Cruces · NIH-11190916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project examines how cancer cells missing the SDH enzyme change their metabolism over time to reveal new weaknesses that could help people with SDH-related or advanced cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Mexico State University Las Cruces NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Las Cruces, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2007 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $116,681 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA132383-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with tumors that have loss-of-function SDH mutations or who have advanced cancers showing similar metabolic features would be the most relevant candidates for future trials or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve SDH loss or do not rely on the same metabolic pathways are less likely to see direct benefits from this specific research.
What this research studies
From my point of view, researchers grow cancer cells that lack the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and follow how they adapt over months. They track metabolic changes such as dependence on the amino acid aspartate and use detailed proteomics to see which mitochondrial proteins change, including parts of the electron transport chain. By mapping these stepwise adaptations, the team aims to find metabolic bottlenecks or new vulnerabilities. Those findings would guide ideas for therapies that target cancers with SDH loss or similar metabolic profiles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or treatment strategies that exploit metabolic weaknesses in SDH-deficient or metabolically similar cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that targeting cancer metabolism can slow tumor growth in some cases, but studying long-term adaptation to SDH loss and the vulnerabilities it creates is a newer and less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
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New Mexico State University Las Cruces
Las Cruces, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jeon, Soyoung — New Mexico State University Las Cruces
- Study coordinator: Jeon, Soyoung
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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.