How tumors start and change in mice
Systems genetics analysis of tumor evolution in the mouse
Researchers are using mouse skin models to learn how cancers begin and change over time so future treatments can better stop them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228729 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team grows and follows tumors in mice starting from the earliest mutated stem cells through benign growth to full cancer to see how tumors evolve. They expose mice to environmental mutagens and different genetic backgrounds to mimic how human cancers form and progress. Using lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, they map which stem cells drive tumor growth and identify a key "transition point" that steers cells toward uncontrolled growth or toward differentiation. The goal is to reveal biological switches and pathways that could become targets to prevent or slow tumor progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The project is preclinical and does not enroll patients, but its findings are most relevant to people with skin cancers or genetic predispositions to cancer.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers unrelated to the skin or to the specific pathways studied may not see direct or immediate benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to detect cancer earlier or to block the steps that let small lesions become aggressive tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse-model and single-cell studies have uncovered cancer stem cell behaviors and tumor hierarchies, but translating those discoveries into human treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balmain, Allan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Balmain, Allan
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.