Investigating how certain cancer cells survive treatment in colorectal cancer
Official title: Targeting regenerative reprogramming in colorectal cancer
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11162104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how some colorectal cancer cells manage to survive treatment and keep growing, with the hope of finding new ways to stop these tough cells for patients who need better options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $292,594 |
| NIH project number | 7K08CA279499-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with colorectal cancer who have experienced treatment resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage colorectal cancer who have not yet undergone treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how some colorectal cancer cells can evade treatment and continue to grow. By using advanced sequencing techniques, the study aims to identify specific characteristics of these resistant cells and how they activate regenerative programs that help them survive. The researchers will analyze patient-derived organoids and utilize single-cell technologies to trace the origins of these resistant cells. The ultimate goal is to find new therapeutic targets that can effectively combat these treatment-resistant tumors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that effectively target and eliminate treatment-resistant colorectal cancer cells.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting regenerative mechanisms in cancer, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alonso Martinez, Salvador — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Alonso Martinez, Salvador
Related research
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This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
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Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
-
Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
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.