How the protein Gα13 affects pancreatic tumor growth
Elucidating the mechanism of Ga13 mediated tumor suppression in pancreatic cancer
This project explores whether losing the protein Gα13 makes pancreatic tumors grow faster by boosting mTOR-driven metabolism and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have pancreatic cancer, this work aims to explain why tumors lacking a protein called Gα13 behave more aggressively. Researchers will use genetically engineered mouse models and pancreatic cancer cells that lack Gα13 to measure mTOR signaling, mitochondrial metabolism, and inflammatory cytokines. They will test whether blocking mTOR (for example with rapamycin) changes tumor growth and the metabolic/inflammatory changes. Findings will be compared to features seen in human pancreatic tumors to guide possible future patient-focused studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with pancreatic cancer — especially those whose tumors show low Gα13 levels or high mTOR activity — would be most relevant for follow-up studies informed by this work.
Not a fit: People without pancreatic cancer, or patients whose tumors are driven by unrelated mechanisms, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could point to mTOR, metabolic, or inflammatory pathways as targets for new treatments or for repurposing existing drugs in subsets of pancreatic cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous preclinical work showed that Gα13 loss raises mTOR activity and that Gα13-deficient tumors can respond to rapamycin in mice, while linking Gα13 to mitochondrial metabolism and inflammation is a more novel direction.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shields, Mario — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Shields, Mario
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.