How tumor metabolism helps cancers resist cisplatin and hide from the immune system
Metabolic adaptation enables cisplatin resistance and inhibits tumor immunity
This project looks at whether changes in tumor metabolism let head and neck cancers survive cisplatin chemotherapy and weaken the immune response against them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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-11182524 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying head and neck cancer cells to see how they rewire energy and carbon use to survive cisplatin treatment. They will compare sensitive and resistant cancer cell lines and trace how glucose and glutamine are redirected into antioxidant and building pathways. The team will tie these metabolic changes to specific genes and enzymes (like GPX2 and the KEAP1‑NRF2 pathway) and study how that shift affects immune signals and immune cell types inside tumors. The work combines lab experiments on cells and molecular analyses to map steps that could be targeted to prevent resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), especially those treated with or who stopped responding to cisplatin, would be most relevant to this line of research.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to head and neck tumors or those not treated with platinum chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new ways to stop or reverse cisplatin resistance and restore immune attack, potentially improving chemotherapy effectiveness and survival.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked metabolic shifts and NRF2 pathway activation to chemo‑resistance and immune suppression, but targeting the specific GPX2‑linked metabolic route in cisplatin resistance is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sandulache, Vlad C — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sandulache, Vlad C
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.