Investigating how a specific protein affects colon cancer growth and spread
Official title: Role of PTPRT in colon cancer progression and metastasis
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-10893342 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein called PTPRT and how changes in it might affect the growth and spread of colon cancer, using special mice to help find new ways to understand and treat the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $418,930 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA260629-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893342 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer, particularly those with mutations in the PTPRT gene.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-colorectal cancers or those without PTPRT mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the role of the protein PTPRT in colon cancer, particularly how its mutations may influence cancer progression and metastasis. The study aims to understand the enzymatic activity of PTPRT, which has been previously thought to be inactive, and how it regulates important signaling pathways in cancer cells. By using genetically modified mice and advanced bioinformatics, the researchers will explore how changes in PTPRT affect tumor development and spread in colorectal cancer. This could lead to new insights into the mechanisms of cancer and potential therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating colon cancer by targeting the PTPRT protein.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that targeting similar signaling pathways in cancer has shown promise, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhenghe — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhenghe
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting CLDN1 to overcome chemoresistance and curb metastasis in colon cancer
A new drug candidate that blocks CLDN1 may help people with colon cancer respond better to chemotherapy and reduce spread.
-
How blocking a specific protein may help treat colon cancer
This study is looking at a protein called claudin-1 that helps colon cancer spread, and it’s testing a new treatment that might make chemotherapy work better and stop the cancer from spreading further, all to help people with advanced colon cancer feel better and live longer.
-
Stopping colon cancer from spreading to the liver with a new drug approach
Researchers are trying drugs that activate the dopamine D4 receptor, alone or with standard chemotherapy, to stop colon cancer from spreading to the liver in people at risk of liver metastases.
-
How the PTPRT gene affects colon cancer growth and spread
Researchers are looking at whether changes in a gene called PTPRT change how colon cancer grows and spreads, which could help people with colorectal cancer.
-
New treatment approach for liver cancer spread from colon cancer
This study is looking at a new way to help prevent liver cancer spread in people with colon cancer by testing a special treatment that works with certain receptors in the body, and it aims to see how well this treatment works alone or with other cancer medicines.
-
Investigating how sex differences affect colon cancer spread
This study is looking at how a gene called KDM5D affects colon cancer differently in men and women, with the goal of finding new treatments that could help improve survival for all 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.