How the p53 gene helps protect tissues from cancer
A Pathway of Tumor Suppression
Researchers will look at how the p53 'guardian' gene tells damaged cells to stop growing or die, which could help people with cancers linked to p53 changes such as breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, and brain cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311287 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models to turn on p53 and then examines what happens in different organs and which genes are switched on or off. Scientists analyze tissues like pancreas, intestine, kidney, ovary, and heart to find both tissue-specific and shared p53-controlled genes. The team follows changes in cell survival, programmed cell death (apoptosis), and tissue structure and highlights genes such as Mdm2 and Eda2r that may matter for human cancers. Results aim to connect these mouse findings to observations in human tumors where some p53-related genes are reduced or altered.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to people with cancers tied to p53 dysfunction (for example, certain breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and glioblastoma cases) or those interested in contributing samples to related future studies.
Not a fit: People with conditions not related to p53 biology or non-cancer illnesses are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new molecular targets and pathways to guide future treatments or tests for cancers involving p53.
How similar studies have performed: p53 is a well-established cancer gene with many prior studies, but this in vivo mouse work seeks a broader, pan-tissue view and highlights some less-studied p53 targets.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lozano, Guillermina — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lozano, Guillermina
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.