How support cells (fibroblasts) affect thyroid cancer growth
Official title: The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Thyroid Carcinoma
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11172670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether certain support cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts, marked by FAP and Wnt signals, help some thyroid cancers become more aggressive so tests or treatments can be developed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,047,479 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA272875-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), especially those whose tumors show signs of progression, and patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) would be the most relevant to contribute tumor samples or join related efforts.
✕Less likely to help
People without thyroid cancer or patients seeking immediate therapeutic benefit should not expect direct help from this primarily lab-focused project.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers may examine your tumor tissue for fibroblast subsets that express FAP and Wnt-2 and map where they sit relative to tumor cells. They will compare samples from common papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the more aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and link those findings to clinical outcomes. In laboratory models they will test whether CAF-derived Wnt signals cause nearby tumor cells to become de-differentiated and stem-like. The aim is to validate these CAFs and their signals as biomarkers or targets that could guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests that predict which thyroid cancers will become aggressive and to new treatments that target CAFs or Wnt signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Studies in pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer have shown that CAFs and Wnt signaling can drive aggressive tumor behavior, but applying those findings to thyroid cancer and targeting FAP+ CAFs is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiss, Vivian Lee — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Weiss, Vivian Lee
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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.