Investigating how cancer cells can reverse their death process in mice
Official title: Detecting Reversal of Apoptosis in Cancer Cells in Mice
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11013389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a surprising way that some cancer cells can bounce back after they start to die, which could help us understand why certain cancers come back even after treatment, and it’s aimed at helping researchers find better ways to stop that from happening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $191,383 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA286284-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with metastatic cancers who have experienced treatment failure or recurrence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancers that have not yet undergone treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores a novel phenomenon called anastasis, where cancer cells can recover from the process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. By using a newly developed biosensor, the researchers aim to detect these recovering cells in live mice, which could provide insights into how metastatic cancers evade treatment. The study challenges the traditional belief that once apoptosis begins, it cannot be reversed, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies to prevent cancer recurrence. The findings could help in understanding the mechanisms behind cancer survival and treatment resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that prevent cancer cells from escaping death, reducing the chances of cancer recurrence.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of anastasis is novel and has not been extensively tested in vivo, preliminary studies in vitro have shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Ho Lam — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Tang, Ho Lam
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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.