Investigating how cancer cells adapt to oxidative stress during metastasis

High-resolution approaches to dissect the role of subcellular redox circuits in vivo

NIH-funded research Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10909611

This study is looking at how aggressive cancer cells manage to survive even when faced with harmful stress from their environment, and it aims to find new ways to stop these cells from spreading by using special tools to better understand their behavior.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUt Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Dallas, United States)
Project IDNIH-10909611 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how highly metastatic cancer cells survive and thrive despite the damaging effects of oxidative stress, which is caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The team will develop advanced tools to study these processes in living organisms, including optogenetic proteins that can create localized ROS and gene therapy techniques to manipulate ROS levels in tissues. By examining the subcellular circuits involved in these adaptations, the research aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets to hinder cancer metastasis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients, particularly those with highly metastatic tumors.

Not a fit: Patients with non-metastatic cancers or those whose tumors are not influenced by oxidative stress may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that prevent cancer cells from spreading to other organs.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of using high-resolution tools to study ROS in vivo is novel, similar research has shown promise in understanding cancer cell behavior and developing targeted therapies.

Where this research is happening

Dallas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancer ModelCancer PatientCancerModelCancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.