IGFBP1 — a liver protein linked to muscle and bone loss in colorectal cancer
Official title: IGFBP1 mediates a liver-bone-muscle axis in colorectal cancer cachexia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11173599 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work focuses on a liver protein called IGFBP1 that may drive muscle and bone wasting in people with colorectal cancer, especially when the cancer spreads to the liver.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $399,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080051-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173599 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with colorectal cancer, particularly those who have or are at high risk for liver metastases and who show signs of muscle or bone loss.
✕Less likely to help
People without colorectal cancer or without liver metastases or musculoskeletal wasting are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team has found higher IGFBP1 levels in people with colorectal cancer and in animals with liver metastases and is following up on those clues. They will analyze patient samples, use cell experiments to see how IGFBP1 affects muscle cells and bone-resorbing cells, and use mouse models that develop liver metastases to reproduce wasting. The researchers will test whether blocking IGFBP1 prevents muscle atrophy and bone loss in the lab and in animal models. The goal is to connect liver changes to musculoskeletal decline and point toward treatments that could stop or reverse wasting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce muscle wasting and bone loss in people with colorectal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal work has linked IGFBP1 to muscle and bone changes, but translating these findings into therapies for cancer cachexia is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonetto, Andrea — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bonetto, Andrea
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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IGFBP1 and a liver-bone-muscle link in colorectal cancer cachexia
Aims to understand how a liver-made protein (IGFBP1) contributes to muscle and bone wasting in people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.
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Investigating how a liver hormone affects muscle and bone loss in colorectal cancer patients
This study is looking at how a hormone called IGFBP1, which comes from the liver, might be causing muscle and bone loss in people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, and it aims to find new ways to help those who are struggling with weight loss and muscle wasting.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues
Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.
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Nuclear receptors that may stop muscle wasting in cancer
This grant explores whether activating specific muscle-regulating receptors can prevent muscle loss in cancer patients.
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.