IGFBP1 — a liver protein linked to muscle and bone loss in colorectal cancer
IGFBP1 mediates a liver-bone-muscle axis in colorectal cancer cachexia
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 ID | NIH-11173599 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People without colorectal cancer or without liver metastases or musculoskeletal wasting are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
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 performed: 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
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonetto, Andrea — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bonetto, Andrea
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.