How sphingolipids help KRAS-driven non-small cell lung cancer grow and persist
Official title: BCCMA: The Role of Sphingolipids in the Induction & Maintenance of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Oncogenic KRAS
Funded at VA Veterans Administration Hospital · NIH-11213924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether changes in sphingolipid fat molecules tied to KRAS mutations help non-small cell lung cancer form and whether targeting those changes could lead to new treatments for people with KRAS-mutant tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Veterans Administration Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006063-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with non-small cell lung cancer, especially those whose tumors have KRAS mutations, or patients willing to donate tumor tissue, would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung cancer or whose tumors do not carry KRAS mutations are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer, this project studies how certain fat-like molecules called sphingolipids change as cancer cells form and survive. Researchers will use lab-grown cells, animal models, CRISPR gene-editing tools, and broad 'omics' analyses to map when and how sphingolipid pathways are altered. They will compare those laboratory findings to samples from human lung tumors to determine which changes matter in patients. Where possible, they will test whether altering sphingolipid pathways can block cancer cell growth and point to potential treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new drug targets in sphingolipid metabolism that lead to treatments for people with KRAS-mutant NSCLC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies have linked sphingolipid changes to cancer growth and shown promising results in cells and animals, but patient-level clinical benefits remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Veterans Administration Hospital
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chalfant, Charles E. — VA Veterans Administration Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chalfant, Charles E.
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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.