How the protein PTPN12 helps glioblastoma cells stick and invade the brain
Analyzing Adhesion and Signaling Functions for PTPN12 in Invasive Glioma Cells
Researchers are looking at whether blocking a protein called PTPN12 can stop glioblastoma cells from invading nearby brain tissue in people with glioblastoma.
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-11259557 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has glioblastoma, this work looks at how a protein called PTPN12 helps tumor cells stick to and move through the brain. Scientists will use patient-derived tumor cells, genetic and biochemical screens, and 3‑D lab models to study interactions between PTPN12, the focal adhesion protein p130Cas, and the ubiquitin segregase VCP. They will test how phosphorylation-dependent ubiquitination changes the stability of adhesion proteins and whether changing PTPN12 activity reduces invasive cell behavior. The goal is to find molecular steps that could become drug targets or markers to guide future therapies that limit tumor spread.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults with glioblastoma who can donate tumor tissue or clinical data for laboratory studies.
Not a fit: Patients without glioblastoma or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could uncover drug targets or biomarkers to help stop glioblastoma cells from invading healthy brain tissue, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies in glioblastoma and other cancers have implicated PTPN12 in cell invasion and the team reports supportive preliminary data, but clinical therapies targeting this pathway have not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccarty, Joseph H — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mccarty, Joseph H
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.