How TGF‑β signals control cell behavior in development and cancer
The TGFÃÂÃÂÃÂò Signaling Pathway in Development and Cancer
This project looks at how a molecule called TGF‑β changes cell behavior in cancers to help guide future treatments for people with tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166402 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are studying how TGF‑β, a signaling molecule, tells cells to change shape, stop growing, or spread during normal development and in cancer. The team uses lab-grown cells, animal models, and analysis of cancer tissues to follow the signaling steps that drive tumor suppression, invasion, and metastatic dormancy. They focus on cancers such as pancreatic and lung tumors and on how the cell's epigenetic state changes the outcome of TGF‑β signals. The goal is to find why some tumors evade TGF‑β's protective effects and to expose points that could be targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates to engage with this work would be people with solid tumors (for example pancreatic or lung cancer) who can donate tissue or blood samples or consider future trials stemming from these findings.
Not a fit: People without cancer or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent metastasis or wake up and eliminate dormant cancer cells, improving long‑term cancer outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous preclinical and laboratory studies have shown TGF‑β plays key roles in tumor behavior, and this project builds on strong prior work though translation to new treatments remains challenging.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Massague, Joan — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Massague, Joan
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.