How the protein Cereblon may block Wnt-driven colorectal cancer
A Cereblon signaling network in Wnt-driven cancers
This work looks at whether changing a protein called Cereblon can turn off the Wnt pathway that drives many colorectal cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285162 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the protein Cereblon controls the Wnt signaling pathway that fuels most colorectal cancers. They will use human cancer cells, mouse intestinal organoids, zebrafish, and fruit fly models to see how Cereblon promotes breakdown of proteins that normally keep Wnt activity in check. The team aims to find ways to exploit this mechanism to bypass common Wnt pathway mutations that have made the pathway hard to drug. Successful findings would guide development of new drugs targeting Wnt-driven tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with colorectal cancer whose tumors show activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling would be the most relevant candidates for future therapies arising from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that are not driven by Wnt signaling or with non-colorectal tumors are unlikely to benefit directly from the approaches tested here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that shut down Wnt signaling and help patients with Wnt-driven colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that target Cereblon already help some blood cancers, but applying Cereblon-based strategies to control Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahmed, Yasmath — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Ahmed, Yasmath
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.