How the tumor environment helps ovarian cancer spread by activating c‑Jun and AKT2
Official title: Regulation of ovarian cancer metastasis by microenvironment-induced chromatin accessibility and c-Jun activation.
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11437716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks for molecular changes in the tumor surroundings that switch on c‑Jun and AKT2 and help ovarian cancer cells spread, aiming to guide new treatments for people with metastatic ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | May 7, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $459,089 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA293059-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11437716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with ovarian cancer—especially those having surgery for primary tumors or abdominal metastases who can donate tumor or omental tissue for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without ovarian cancer or those seeking an immediate therapeutic benefit should not expect direct help from this lab‑based research at this time.
What this research studies
The team recreates the surface of the human omentum in a 3D lab model and compares those results with matched primary tumors and metastases taken from ovarian cancer patients. They use ATAC‑seq to find places where the tumor environment opens up chromatin and exposes binding sites for the transcription factor c‑Jun. The researchers turn genes such as c‑Jun, USP35, SUPT5H, and AKT2 off or on in lab experiments to see how those changes affect cancer cell colonization. The goal is to reveal how signals from the surrounding tissue drive intraperitoneal spread and to identify targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to drug targets that stop or slow ovarian cancer spread within the abdomen and reduce life‑threatening complications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have linked c‑Jun, chromatin accessibility, and AKT2 to cancer behavior, but turning those findings into treatments for intraperitoneal ovarian metastasis remains an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitra, Anirban Kumar — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mitra, Anirban Kumar
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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.