How the two main types of stomach cancer begin
Initiation of Diffuse and Intestinal Non-Cardia Gastric Cancer
Researchers will use advanced mouse models plus single-cell and spatial gene mapping to understand how genetic changes and infections like H. pylori lead to the two main types of stomach cancer in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11211080 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team makes engineered mouse models that mimic the two main stomach cancer types by turning off the specific tumor suppressor genes linked to each type (CDH1 for diffuse and p53 for intestinal) and exposing animals to relevant environmental factors such as Helicobacter infection and dietary nitrates. They profile individual stomach cells using multi-omic single-cell methods that capture gene activity and chromatin accessibility, then use spatial transcriptomics to map where altered cells sit in the tissue. This approach lets them trace which normal cell types first become abnormal and the molecular steps that drive progression toward cancer. The researchers will compare mouse findings to available human data to better connect the laboratory results to patient biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of H. pylori infection, precancerous stomach changes, or known genetic risk such as CDH1 mutations would be most directly affected by the findings of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced metastatic stomach cancer or those without stomach cancer risk factors are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this primarily laboratory-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal the earliest cells and molecular changes that start each type of stomach cancer, guiding earlier detection, prevention, or new treatment targets.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have connected CDH1, p53, and H. pylori to gastric cancer, but using engineered mouse models together with single-cell multi-omics and spatial mapping to define cells-of-origin is a newer and cutting-edge approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryeom, Sandra — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ryeom, Sandra
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.